Fair Plain Middle School

120 E Napier Ave
Benton Harbor, MI 49022

www.bhas.org

288 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

The Arts & Communications Academy (ACA) at Fair Plain, located in Benton Harbor, Michigan, is a specialized educational institution within the Benton Harbor Area Schools district. The academy is designed to foster student success by integrating rigorous core academics with a focused curriculum in the arts and digital communications. By emphasizing creative expression alongside traditional studies, the school aims to provide students with a well-rounded foundation that prepares them for both higher education and modern workforce demands.

The academy serves as a hub for students interested in developing skills in areas such as visual arts, media, and communication technologies. By leveraging its specific thematic focus, the school seeks to increase student engagement and provide unique opportunities for hands-on learning. As part of the broader Benton Harbor school community, the Arts & Communications Academy plays a critical role in offering specialized academic pathways that encourage students to explore their talents while meeting state educational standards.

288

Total Students

12.5

Full-Time Teachers

23.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

80.2%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Fair Plain Middle School
Demographic	Student Count
White	6
Hispanic	9
Black	266
Two or More	5
American Indian	1
Pacific Islander	1

Black
266 (92.4 %)
Hispanic
9 (3.1 %)
White
6 (2.1 %)
Two or More
5 (1.7 %)
American Indian
1 (0.3 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Benton Harbor Area Schools
Phone:	(269)605-1400
Website:	http://www.bhas.org
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	288
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	12.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	23.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	230
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	1

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 89

Grade 7 89

Grade 8 110