Eastside Connections School

www.nilesschools.org

403 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

Eastside Connections School, located in Niles, Michigan, serves as a specialized K-8 institution within the Niles Community Schools district. The school is widely recognized for its commitment to project-based learning (PBL), a teaching method that encourages students to gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period to investigate and respond to complex questions, problems, or challenges. By integrating rigorous academic standards with hands-on, real-world applications, the school aims to cultivate critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills in its student body.

Beyond its academic focus, Eastside Connections is known for fostering a tight-knit, community-oriented environment. The school emphasizes character development and active student engagement, often encouraging learners to connect their classroom studies to the broader Niles community. By maintaining a smaller school atmosphere and utilizing a comprehensive curriculum, the staff strives to prepare students not only for the transition to high school but for success in their future personal and professional lives.

403

Total Students

21.7

Full-Time Teachers

18.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

51.1%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Eastside Connections School
Demographic	Student Count
White	257
Hispanic	42
Black	57
Asian	2
Two or More	40
American Indian	5

White
257 (63.8%)
Black
57 (14.1%)
Hispanic
42 (10.4%)
Two or More
40 (9.9%)
American Indian
5 (1.2%)
Asian
2 (0.5%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Niles Community Schools
Phone:	(269)682-2585
Website:	http://www.nilesschools.org
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	403
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	21.7
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	18.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	155
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	51

* 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

Kindergarten 37

Grade 1 41

Grade 2 39

Grade 3 50

Grade 4 54

Grade 5 53

Grade 6 36

Grade 7 52

Grade 8 41