Afterschool Rocks! Revenue and Competitors

Berrien Springs. The heart of Berrien County. A special place to call home. From its beginning, Berrien Springs has essentially been a rural farming community with a few light industrial entrepreneurs. It is geographically located within the central region of Berrien County and the fruit belt of Southwestern Michigan. Berrien Springs is approximately 10 miles east of the beautiful sandy beaches of Lake Michigan and approximately 2 mile east of the US 31 bypass which connects I-94 to the Indiana Toll Road. It is 20 miles north of South Bend, Indiana, the home of Notre Dame and Indiana University-South Bend. The beautiful St. Joseph River borders the eastern and southern boundaries of the village. The residents enjoy a park, called the Grove, which overlooks Lake Chapin and one of several dams on the St. Joseph River. This area below the dam is proven to be a year-round haven for many amateur fishermen. Berrien Springs, surrounded by beauty, proudly stands tall with a safe, American, hometown atmosphere. It is home of the Berrien County Youth Fair, Andrews University and the Berrien County Intermediate School District. Multiple educational opportunities abound in Berrien Springs from Pre-K through doctoral level, public and parochial and special needs programs. The Howard Performing Arts Center schedule features different types of musical performances from student recitals to contemporary Christian Artists and classical performances. Educational degreed individuals in Berrien Springs exceed any other school district in Berrien County. Berrien Springs Public Schools enrolls approximately 1700-1800, K-12 children per year. While the majority of the students come from the rural community it serves, enrollment also includes students from different districts who have chosen Berrien Springs Public Schools as their "School of Choice". A strength of the district is its diversity. Andrews University is the sixth most diverse university in the United States in having students from all over the world and the 14th most diverse in having students from all races and background. (A.U., 2007). K-12 students from as many as 30+ countries enhance the classrooms and hallways of Berrien Springs Public Schools. We applaud our parents, grandparents and community members who also play a role in making the district one of the best. They support the district in many ways, such as participating in parent advisory councils, as classroom and fine arts volunteers and athletic enthusiasts. Several years ago the parents and community members passed a bond issue that allowed renovations of the buildings and updated the classrooms with the latest technology. Now you know why we are proud to call Berrien Springs "a special place to call home."