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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Van Buren County Public Middle Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 21 public middle schools serving 6,246 students in Van Buren County, MI.
The top-ranked public middle schools in Van Buren County, MI are Bert Goens Learning Center, Mattawan Middle School and Wood School Bangor Twp 8. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Van Buren County, MI public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 26% (versus the Michigan public middle school average of 31%), and reading proficiency score of 40% (versus the 44% statewide average). Middle schools in Van Buren County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Michigan public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 34% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Michigan public middle school average of 42% (majority Black).

Best Public Middle Schools in Van Buren County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Bert Goens Learning Center
Special Education School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
701 S Paw Paw St
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 539-5032
Gr: PK-12 | 70 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #22.
Mattawan Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
56720 Murray St
Mattawan, MI 49071
(269) 668-3361
Gr: 6-8 | 823 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #33.
Wood School Bangor Twp 8
Magnet School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
29842 66th St
Bangor, MI 49013
(269) 427-8562
Gr: K-8 | 24 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #44.
Hartford Alternative Education
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
115 School St
Hartford, MI 49057
(269) 621-7143
Gr: 6-12 | 122 students Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #55.
Way South Haven
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
125 Veterans Dr
South Haven, MI 49090
(269) 637-0500
Gr: 8-12 | 44 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #66.
Lawton High School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
101 Blue Pride Dr
Lawton, MI 49065
(269) 624-7800
Gr: 8-12 | 279 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #77.
Paw Paw Middle School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
313 W Michigan Ave
Paw Paw, MI 49079
(269) 415-5500
Gr: 6-8 | 498 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #88.
Lawton Accelerated Academic Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
101 Blue Pride Dr
Lawton, MI 49065
(269) 624-7542
Gr: 5-12 | 26 students Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #99.
Lawton Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
100 Blue Pride Dr
Lawton, MI 49065
(269) 624-7600
Gr: 5-8 | 325 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #1010.
Gobles High School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
409 N State St
Gobles, MI 49055
(269) 628-9340
Gr: 6-12 | 396 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #1111.
Lawrence Jrsr High School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
650 W Saint Joseph St
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 674-8232
Gr: 7-12 | 179 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1212.
Cedar Street Community And Family Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
555 Cedar St
Paw Paw, MI 49079
(269) 415-5700
Gr: 6-12 | 76 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #1313.
Baseline Middle School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
7357 Baseline Rd
South Haven, MI 49090
(269) 637-0530
Gr: 6-8 | 377 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1414.
Decatur Jr Sr High School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
110 Cedar St
Decatur, MI 49045
(269) 423-6851
Gr: 6-12 | 399 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #1515.
Bloomingdale Middle And High School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
629 E Kalamazoo St
Bloomingdale, MI 49026
(269) 521-3910
Gr: 6-12 | 516 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1616.
Bangor Middle School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
803 W Arlington St
Bangor, MI 49013
(269) 427-6800
Gr: 5-8 | 272 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #1717.
Maple Creek Education Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
30 S Walnut St
Bangor, MI 49013
(269) 427-7961
Gr: K-12 | 33 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1818.
Bangor Career Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
801 W Arlington St
Bangor, MI 49013
(269) 427-6800
Gr: K-12 | 74 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #1919.
Michigan Online School
Charter School
(Math: 5% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
209 S State St
Gobles, MI 49055
(269) 216-6972
Gr: K-12 | 1,268 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #2020.
Hartford Middle School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 26%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
141 School St
Hartford, MI 49057
(269) 621-7200
Gr: 6-8 | 321 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #2121.
Covert Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
35323 M 140 Hwy
Covert, MI 49043
(269) 764-3739
Gr: 6-8 | 79 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 85%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Van Buren County, MI?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Van Buren County, MI include Bert Goens Learning Center, Mattawan Middle School and Wood School Bangor Twp 8.
How many public middle schools are located in Van Buren County?
22 public middle schools are located in Van Buren County.
What is the racial composition of students in Van Buren County?
Van Buren County public middle schools minority enrollment is 34% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Michigan public middle schools average of 42% (majority Black).
Which public middle schools in Van Buren County are often viewed compared to one another?

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