St. Joseph Public Schools

St. Joseph Public Schools
Address
2580 S. Cleveland Avenue[1]
St. Joseph
, Berrien, Michigan, 49085
United States
District information
GradesPre-Kindergarten-12
SuperintendentKristen Bawks[2]
Schools5[3]
Budget$38,054,000 2021-2022 expenditures[3]
NCES District ID2632850[3]
Students and staff
Students2,914 (2023-2024)[3]
Teachers151.3 (on an FTE basis) (2023-2024)[3]
Staff320.63 FTE (2023-2024)[3]
Student–teacher ratio19.26 (2023-2024)[3]
Other information
Websitewww.sjschools.org

St. Joseph Public Schools is a public school district in Berrien County, Michigan. It serves St. Joseph and parts of Shoreham, Lincoln Township, Royalton Township, and St. Joseph Township.[4]

History

St. Joseph had a union school district, which built Union School in 1872. It housed all grades, including the high school in the third floor and attic, and lower grades on the first two floors. In 1916, a dedicated high school was built on Niles Avenue.[5] It opened in 1917 and was expanded in 1936. That same year, Washington Elementary, which had been using the old Union School, was rebuilt on its same site.[6] Its construction was funded by the Works Progress Administration.[7]

The present St. Joseph High School, designed by architect Eberle M. Smith, opened in the fall of 1959 and housed grades ten through twelve. Grades seven through nine remained at the previous high school building, renamed Milton Junior High.[8][9] The high school was expanded in 1968.[9] A fieldhouse opened at the high school in April 2004.[10] A commons area and extensive renovations were completed in 2013.[11]

Upton Middle School opened in fall 1969.[12] It was named for St. Joseph residents Louis Upton and his brother, Frederick.[13] Originally a junior high school, it became a middle school in fall of 1986 with the inclusion of sixth grade.[14]

The site of the 1917 high school, and later Milton Junior High, became Milton Park after the building was torn down in March of 1977.[15] Washington Elementary was ultimately closed and, in 1986, was renovated to become the corporate headquarters of KitchenAid. It then became the administration center for Berrien County.[7]

Schools

Schools in St. Joseph Public Schools district[16][3]
School Address Notes
Brown Elementary 2027 Brown School Road, St. Joseph Grades PreK-5.
E. P. Clarke Elementary 515 East Glenlord Rd., St. Joseph Grades PreK-5.
Lincoln Elementary 1102 Orchard Ave., St. Joseph Grades PreK-5.
Upton Middle School 800 Maiden Lane, St. Joseph Grades 6-8.
St. Joseph High School 2521 Stadium Drive, St. Joseph Grades 9-12. Built 1959.[9]

References

  1. ^ St. Joseph Public Schools. "St. Joseph Public Schools". Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  2. ^ St. Joseph Public Schools. "Staff". Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for St. Joseph Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences.
  4. ^ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Berrien County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  5. ^ "St. Joseph's first high school". The Herald-Press (St. Joseph, Mich.). January 9, 1960. p. 10.
  6. ^ Editorial staff of St. Joseph High School yearbook. Mazenblue 1959 (St. Joseph High School yearbook 1959). p. 2-3.
  7. ^ a b SAH Archipedia. "BERRIEN COUNTY ADMINISTRATION CENTER (WASHINGTON SCHOOL)". Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  8. ^ Murdock, Edward L. (January 8, 1960). "Jr. High now all on its own in St. Joe". The Herald-Press (St. Joseph, Mich.). p. 2.
  9. ^ a b c Editorial staff of St. Joseph High School yearbook. Mazenblue '72 (1972 St. Joseph High School yearbook). p. 2.
  10. ^ Swidwa, Julie (April 15, 2004). "Love at first sight". The Herald-Palladium (St. Joseph, Mich.). p. 1.
  11. ^ Matuszak, John (January 15, 2013). "Not your parents' high school". The Herald-Palladium (St. Joseph, Mich.). p. A1.
  12. ^ "St. Joseph delays opening senior high; Upton Junior". The Herald-Press (St. Joseph, Mich.). September 3, 1969. p. 3.
  13. ^ "New St. Joe school is 'Upton Junior High'". The Herald-Press (St. Joseph, Mich.). October 15, 1968. p. 3.
  14. ^ Eliasohn, Michael (April 15, 1986). "SJ boad OKs changing Upton to middle school; slates renewal tax vote". The Herald-Palladium (St. Joseph, Mich.). p. 3.
  15. ^ City of St. Joseph Parks and Recreation. "Milton Park". Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  16. ^ St. Joseph Public Schools. "Schools menu". Retrieved July 17, 2025.
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