Brown School

Summary:

Brown School is an elementary school in Saint Joseph, Michigan, serving 398 students in grades PK-5. It is part of the St. Joseph Public Schools district, which is ranked 47th out of 610 districts in the state and has a 5-star rating.

Brown School consistently outperforms state and district averages on academic measures. In 2023-2024, 70.6% of 3rd graders, 65.8% of 4th graders, and 67.2% of 5th graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, significantly higher than the state averages. The school also has a strong statewide ranking, placing in the top 20% of Michigan elementary schools, and performs well across different student subgroups. While Brown School has experienced some fluctuations in chronic absenteeism rates, the most recent data shows a rate of 14.5%, lower than the state average.

Compared to nearby schools, Brown School consistently outperforms on academic measures. For example, River School and Mildred C Wells Preparatory Academy serve a much higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students, while Fair Plain East Elementary has a significantly higher percentage of African American students. Brown School's diverse student population, strong academic performance, and relatively low chronic absenteeism rates make it a standout elementary school in the area.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 2027 Brown School Rd
       Saint Joseph, MI  49085-2901


(269) 926-3500

District: St. Joseph Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
160th of 1,486 Michigan Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,712 Help


Students who attend Brown School usually attend:

Middle:    Upton Middle School
High:    St Joseph High School

Student/teacher ratio:  20.0 Help
Number of students:  398

Racial breakdown:

White:
74.1%
Asian:
8.3%
African American:
7.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  31.2% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Brown School ranks better than 89.2% of elementary schools in Michigan. It also ranks first among 3 ranked elementary schools in the St. Joseph Public Schools District! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 87.34. (See more...)
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Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Brown School has the smallest elementary school student body size in the St. Joseph Public Schools District. Racial makeup is: White (74.1%), Asian (8.3%), African American (7.5%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 31.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Brown School is 20, which is the lowest among 3 elementary schools in the St. Joseph Public Schools District! (See more...)
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Compare Brown School employs 19.9 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Brown School is $11,712. 1 elementary schools in the St. Joseph Public Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Brown School:

SchoolDigger ranks Brown School 160th of 1486 Michigan public elementary schools. (See Brown School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
White students:


St. Joseph Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks St. Joseph Public Schools 47th of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Brown School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Brown School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 78.36 212th 1545 86.3%
2007 84.62 85th 1565 94.6%
2008 80.20 204th 1577 87.1%
2009 78.17 260th 1589 83.6%
2010 80.36 132nd 1552 91.5%
2011 82.78 96th 1552 93.8%
2012 73.63 374th 1566 76.1%
2013 77.63 296th 1563 81.1%
2014 77.12 310th 1533 79.8%
2015 79.76 270th 1580 82.9%
2016 80.65 240th 1548 84.5%
2017 90.40 73rd 1466 95.0%
2018 91.03 91st 1448 93.7%
2019 91.55 75th 1408 94.7%
2021 80.77 172nd 1153 85.1%
2022 82.56 194th 1344 85.6%
2023 87.99 137th 1470 90.7%
2024 87.34 160th 1486 89.2%
See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Brown School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 86.89 91st 1397 93.5%
2019 93.45 22nd 1134 98.1%
2021 81.63 61st 749 91.9%
2022 71.67 207th 1099 81.2%
2023 72.81 236th 1350 82.5%
2024 72.85 266th 1381 80.7%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Brown School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 89.62 91st 1443 93.7%
2019 88.82 72nd 1171 93.9%
2021 60.32 292nd 902 67.6%
2022 75.77 204th 1106 81.6%
2023 85.85 125th 1321 90.5%
2024 88.00 100th 1342 92.5%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Brown School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 88.18 119th 1446 91.8%
2019 87.70 91st 1196 92.4%
2021 86.69 75th 915 91.8%
2022 80.34 173rd 1139 84.8%
2023 82.42 178th 1334 86.7%
2024 78.96 219th 1347 83.7%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Brown School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 90.15 69th 1253 94.5%
2019 88.65 76th 1128 93.3%
2021 79.65 152nd 1005 84.9%
2022 79.51 183rd 1102 83.4%
2023 90.08 71st 1198 94.1%
2024 86.20 117th 1204 90.3%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Brown School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!


Enrollment information for Brown School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 294 7 9 0 0 n/a n/a 0 310
1989 304 3 10 0 0 n/a n/a 0 317
1990 297 6 8 1 1 n/a n/a 0 313
1991 308 5 6 2 1 n/a n/a 0 322
1992 340 3 6 4 0 n/a n/a 0 353
1993 333 6 9 2 0 n/a n/a 0 350
1994 265 3 6 7 0 n/a n/a 0 281
1995 259 5 10 1 0 n/a n/a 0 275
1996 259 5 10 1 0 n/a n/a 0 275
1997 268 10 8 5 0 n/a n/a 0 291
1998 284 17 5 3 0 n/a n/a 0 309
1999 289 14 9 1 1 n/a n/a 0 314
2000 267 14 10 1 2 n/a n/a 0 294
2001 267 12 12 2 4 n/a n/a 0 297
2002 246 12 12 4 1 n/a n/a 0 275
2003 246 12 12 4 1 n/a n/a 0 275
2004 267 10 9 3 1 n/a n/a 0 290
2005 260 9 25 4 1 n/a n/a 0 299
2006 295 9 19 5 0 n/a n/a 0 328
2007 295 7 18 3 0 n/a n/a 0 323
2008 288 11 21 4 2 n/a n/a 0 326
2009 272 17 20 9 2 n/a n/a 1 321
2010 273 18 25 8 3 n/a n/a 1 328
2011 264 20 24 8 4 2 3 0 325
2012 265 14 27 9 5 2 1 0 323
2013 264 18 30 8 2 2 1 0 325
2014 274 21 24 10 1 2 4 0 336
2015 297 18 26 12 2 2 10 0 367
2016 287 22 27 13 2 1 14 0 366
2017 275 17 33 22 3 0 22 0 372
2018 274 17 34 30 3 0 21 0 379
2019 239 26 36 36 2 0 23 0 362
2020 257 25 41 28 2 0 29 0 382
2021 260 27 31 25 1 0 23 0 367
2022 280 29 25 16 2 0 17 0 369
2023 295 30 33 17 2 0 21 0 398

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Brown School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 310 n/a n/a n/a
1989 317 n/a n/a 7.3
1990 313 21.0 14.9 7
1991 322 n/a n/a n/a
1992 353 n/a n/a 11
1993 350 n/a 0.0 9.7
1994 281 15.3 18.4 6.4
1995 275 14.8 18.6 4
1996 275 14.8 18.6 4
1997 291 16.0 18.2 6.5
1998 309 16.0 19.3 6.8
1999 314 17.0 18.5 7.6
2000 294 16.8 17.5 12.2
2001 297 17.5 17.0 9.4
2002 275 14.0 19.6 12.7
2003 275 14.0 19.6 12.7
2004 290 15.0 19.3 9.7
2005 299 15.0 19.9 11.4
2006 328 12.0 27.3 9.5
2007 323 17.0 19.0 10.2
2008 326 17.0 19.2 8.6
2009 321 17.4 18.4 13.8
2010 328 15.7 20.8 15.6
2011 325 14.0 23.2 13.8
2012 323 14.0 23.0 14.6
2013 325 16.2 19.9 n/a
2014 336 17.6 19.0 26.2
2015 367 18.0 20.3 28.3
2016 366 19.0 19.2 32.5
2017 372 18.8 19.7 27.2
2018 379 18.7 20.2 29.3
2019 362 19.5 18.5 29.3
2020 382 19.5 19.5 28.8
2021 367 21.5 17.0 28.9
2022 369 22.0 16.7 29.3
2023 398 19.9 20.0 31.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Brown School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 310 n/a n/a n/a
1989 317 n/a n/a 7.3
1990 313 21.0 14.9 7
1991 322 n/a n/a n/a
1992 353 n/a n/a 11
1993 350 n/a 0.0 9.7
1994 281 15.3 18.4 6.4
1995 275 14.8 18.6 4
1996 275 14.8 18.6 4
1997 291 16.0 18.2 6.5
1998 309 16.0 19.3 6.8
1999 314 17.0 18.5 7.6
2000 294 16.8 17.5 12.2
2001 297 17.5 17.0 9.4
2002 275 14.0 19.6 12.7
2003 275 14.0 19.6 12.7
2004 290 15.0 19.3 9.7
2005 299 15.0 19.9 11.4
2006 328 12.0 27.3 9.5
2007 323 17.0 19.0 10.2
2008 326 17.0 19.2 8.6
2009 321 17.4 18.4 13.8
2010 328 15.7 20.8 15.6
2011 325 14.0 23.2 13.8
2012 323 14.0 23.0 14.6
2013 325 16.2 19.9 n/a
2014 336 17.6 19.0 26.2
2015 367 18.0 20.3 28.3
2016 366 19.0 19.2 32.5
2017 372 18.8 19.7 27.2
2018 379 18.7 20.2 29.3
2019 362 19.5 18.5 29.3
2020 382 19.5 19.5 28.8
2021 367 21.5 17.0 28.9
2022 369 22.0 16.7 29.3
2023 398 19.9 20.0 31.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Brown School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $559 (5.6%) $9,506 (94.4%) $10,066
2020 $503 (5.4%) $8,754 (94.6%) $9,257
2021 $994 (10.0%) $8,950 (90.0%) $9,944
2022 $2,345 (22.0%) $8,296 (78.0%) $10,640
2023 $507 (4.3%) $11,205 (95.7%) $11,712

Data source: Michigan Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Brown School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 75th of 1408 Elementary schoolsRanks 137th of 1470 Elementary schools
 4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Brown School)57.770.3
 12.6%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (St. Joseph Public Schools)63.363.9
 0.6%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)45.140.9
 4.2%
3rd Grade Math (Brown School)71.263.5
 7.7%
   3rd Grade Math (St. Joseph Public Schools)67.258.3
 8.9%
   3rd Grade Math (Michigan)46.742.9
 3.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Brown School)79.671.7
 7.9%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (St. Joseph Public Schools)79.363.4
 15.9%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)45.844.3
 1.5%
4th Grade Math (Brown School)85.279.2
 6%
   4th Grade Math (St. Joseph Public Schools)75.165.7
 9.4%
   4th Grade Math (Michigan)41.838.6
 3.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Brown School)74.172
 2.1%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (St. Joseph Public Schools)66.259.3
 6.9%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)46.243.9
 2.3%
5th Grade Math (Brown School)65.553.7
 11.8%
   5th Grade Math (St. Joseph Public Schools)58.341.6
 16.7%
   5th Grade Math (Michigan)34.831.5
 3.3%
5th Grade Social Studies (Brown School)41.432.9
 8.5%
   5th Grade Social Studies (St. Joseph Public Schools)37.332.4
 4.9%
   5th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)17.418.6
 1.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students362398
 9.9%
African American2630
 15.4%
American Indian22
Asian3633
 8.3%
Hispanic3617
 52.8%
Pacific Islander00
White239295
 23.4%
Two or More Races2321
 8.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients29.3%31.2%
 1.9%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Brown School

Brown School ranks 160th of 1486 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 398 students attended Brown School.

Students at Brown School are 74% White, 8% Asian, 8% African American, 5% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic.

Students who attend Brown School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Upton Middle School
High : St Joseph High School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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