Bentley Community School District, MI

Original Research by School Decision on Bentley Community School District

Bentley Community School District is a small, unified district in Genesee County, Michigan, serving students from prekindergarten through twelfth grade. It operates four schools: Barhitte Elementary, Bentley Middle School, Bentley Senior High School, and Bentley High School BOLD Academy. The enrollment is modest, with each grade level carrying roughly fifty to sixty students, which means children grow up alongside the same peers from early elementary through graduation. The student body is predominantly white, with Black and Hispanic students each representing about a tenth of enrollment, and a smaller share of students identifying as two or more races. Information on free or reduced-price lunch, special education, and English learner populations was not available, so the economic and linguistic profile of the student body is something a parent would want to ask the district about directly.

On state assessments for the most recent year, Bentley's results paint a mixed picture. In English language arts, the district shows a clear pattern: upper elementary proficiency is reasonably strong, with about a third of fifth graders meeting or exceeding standards, but middle grades dip considerably before a striking rebound in eighth grade, where a majority of tested students reached proficiency. That eighth-grade ELA result stands out as a genuine bright spot. Math tells a harder story. Proficiency declines steadily from third grade onward, and the middle grades are particularly concerning, with sixth and seventh grade showing essentially no students reaching the proficient threshold. Eighth-grade math proficiency remains low. Science and social studies results fall in a moderate range, with eighth-grade performance stronger than fifth-grade in both subjects. When the district is placed among Genesee County's districts, Bentley's overall proficiency index sits above the county midpoint, which is a reasonable showing given the size and resources of the district.

Chronic absenteeism is a concern a parent may want to look into further with the school. The rate runs above the county midpoint, though it is not the highest in the region. Per-pupil spending sits in the middle to upper range among the county's districts, suggesting the district directs reasonable resources toward each student. A four-year graduation rate was not available in the data provided, so a parent would need to seek that directly from the district. State assessment participation rates were also missing from the data.

The district has recently made a tangible investment in its youngest learners. In 2025, voters approved a bond to renovate a building donated by McLaren Health Care Corporation, located next to the middle school, into a dedicated preschool facility called the Little Bulldogs Learning Center. It opened in January 2026, expanding early childhood capacity beyond a single classroom at Barhitte Elementary. This directly addresses what had been unmet preschool demand for district families and gives the youngest students a dedicated space.

Housing in the district is affordable relative to both state and national benchmarks. Typical home values in the area sit well below the Michigan state average and dramatically below national figures, with a price-to-income ratio that points to genuine affordability for working families. Values have been climbing, reflecting the broader regional market, but the entry point remains modest. The Genesee County housing market has been active, with listing prices and new inventory both moving upward, and homes generally changing hands within a reasonable window of time.

What Bentley offers is a small, close-knit setting where families are known and where the district has shown it can rally community support for specific investments, as the new preschool facility demonstrates. The academic pathway is uneven, with real strength in upper-grade English and clear challenges in middle-grade math. For a family weighing this district, the questions worth asking center on what interventions are in place for math in the middle grades, how the district handles absenteeism, and what the graduation rate looks like for recent cohorts.

See more original research from School Decision →

District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

718

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 11%

Black 12%

White 68%

Asian 0%

Two+ 8%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

20%

31%

Gr 4

23%

54%

Gr 5

24%

53%

Gr 6

15%

—

Gr 7

14%

—

Gr 8

62%

60%

Math

Gr 3

24%

25%

Gr 4

15%

39%

Gr 5

12%

29%

Gr 8

—

25%

Science

Gr 5

21%

41%

Gr 8

39%

40%

Social studies

Gr 5

41%

Gr 8

31%

45%

Schools in this District

4 schools are officially reported under this district.

Barhitte Elementary School

Bentley Senior High School

Bentley Middle School

Bentley High School BOLD Academy

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

4 grades reported

25%

Grade 3

21%

Grade 4

18%

Grade 5

13%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

23%

Grade 3

30%

Grade 4

33%

Grade 5

12%

Grade 6

15%

Grade 7

61%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

28%

Grade 5

39%

Grade 8

Social Studies

2 grades reported

20%

Grade 5

37%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$182,763

Year-over-year change+6.7%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$182K to $187K

vs. state typical0.69x

vs. national typical0.50x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
48509	Burton	$182K	+6.7%	86.3%
48519	Burton	$187K	+6.8%	13.7%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$922/mo

Home price / national median income2.2x

Market Activity: Genesee County

Median listing price$219,900

Median listing price YoY+16.4%

Median price per sq ft$146

Median price per sq ft YoY+10.6%

Median days on market46.0 days

Median days on market YoY-11.5%

Active listings858

Active listings YoY+5.5%

New listings560

New listings YoY+5.3%

Pending listings639

Pending listings YoY+2.4%

Hotness: median listing price$199,900

Hotness: median listing price YoY+25.4%

Supply score61.8

Supply score YoY+44.4%

Demand score66.2

Demand score YoY+2.5%

Median listing price (12 months)

Median price per sq ft (12 months)

Median days on market (12 months)

Active listings (12 months)

New listings (12 months)

Pending listings (12 months)

Hotness: median listing price (12 months)

Supply score (12 months)

Demand score (12 months)

Comparison

State typical home value$263,590 (+4.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.