Battle Creek Public Schools

Battle Creek Public Schools
Address
3 Van Buren West [1] Battle Creek , Calhoun , Michigan , 49017 United States
District information
Type	Public
Grades	Pre-kindergarten through 12
Superintendent	Dr. Kimberly Carter [2]
Schools	13 [3]
Budget	$69,510,000 (2021-22 expeditures) [3]
NCES District ID	2600005 [3]
Students and staff
Students	3,693 (2023-24) [3]
Teachers	258.57 FTE (2023-24) [3]
Staff	718.82 FTE (2023-24) [3]
Student–teacher ratio	14.28 (2023-24) [3]
Other information
Website	www.battlecreekpublicschools.org

Battle Creek Public Schools is a public school district in Calhoun County, Michigan. It serves most of Battle Creek, all of Springfield, and parts of Brownlee Park, Level Park-Oak Park, and Bedford Township. ^[4]

History

Battle Creek Central High School opened in fall 1909, replacing a school that had been built in 1871. The architect was Wilbur Thoburn Mills. ^[5] The building has received several additions, including a major renovation and expansion project completed in 2010. The architect for this project was TMP Associates. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

In June 1933, the W.K. Kellogg Auditorium opened, along with a junior high school of the same name within the building. Built across McCamly Street from the Central High School, it was meant to be used for touring shows and concerts and the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra. The building was a gift from cereal mogul Will Keith Kellogg. Musicians and bands that have played there include Johnny Cash, ZZ Top ^[9] , Dizzy Gillespie, and Jerry Lee Lewis. ^[10] The junior high school within the building has closed, and J.K. Kellogg Preparatory High School, an alternative high school, is housed in the building. ^[11]

The district acquired the Sanitarium Union Building, a basketball arena with a bowling alley and swimming pool, in 1958 for $1. It had been built in 1928 by the Battle Creek Sanitarium and was used to rehabilitate wounded veterans of World War II. The district renovated the building and renamed it Central Field House. It was the district's primary venue for basketball games until the expansion of the high school in 2010. ^{[12] [13]}

In 1990, the Springfield School District merged with the Battle Creek School District. Its high school was used to establish the Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center, an advance-placement STEM school used by fifteen area school districts. ^{[14] [15]} Since 2013, it has been housed in the renovated former Kellogg Cereal City Museum. ^[16]

Schools

Schools in Battle Creek Public Schools district ^{[17] [3]}

School	Address	Notes
Ann J. Kellogg Elementary	306 Champion St., Battle Creek	Grades 3-5
Dudley Elementary	308 W. Roosevelt Avenue, Battle Creek	Grades PreK-2
Fremont International Academy	115 E. Emmett St., Battle Creek	Grades PreK-5. An International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme School
LaMora Park Elementary	65 North Woodlawn Avenue, Battle Creek	Grades PreK-2
Post-Franklin Elementary	20 Newark Avenue, Battle Creek	Grades K-2
Valley View Elementary	960 Avenue A, Battle Creek	Grades PreK-5
Verona Elementary	825 Capital Avenue NE, Battle Creek	Grades 3-5
Northwestern Academy of Visual Arts & Performing Arts	176 Limit Street, Battle Creek	Grades K-2 and 6-8. Opening fall 2025 in the former Northwestern Middle School.
Springfield Middle School	1023 Avenue A, Battle Creek	Grades 6-8
BC STEM Innovation Center	100 West Van Buren Street, Battle Creek	Grades 6-8. Application-based enrollment.
Battle Creek Central High School	100 West Van Buren Street, Battle Creek	Grades 9-12. Built 1909. [18] Has a career and technical education focus called Career Academies.
W.K. Kellogg Preparatory High School	60 West Van Buren Streetm, Battle Creek	Grades 9-12. Alternative high school. Built 1933. [19]

References

1. Battle Creek Public Schools. "Battle Creek Public Schools" . Retrieved April 26, 2025.
2. Battle Creek Public Schools. "Staff Directory" . Retrieved April 26, 2025.
3. "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Battle Creek Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences.
4. "Calhoun County School Districts" (PDF). Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
5. Thornton, Kurt (October 15, 2024). "I'll BC-ing You, The History of Battle Creek Central High School" (video). youtube.com.
6. "BCCHS 1967: The history of Battle Creek Central High School" . Retrieved April 26, 2025.
7. Nippon Sheet Glass Co. Ltd. "Battle Creek Central High School" . Retrieved April 26, 2025.
8. TMP Associates. "BATTLE CREEK PUBLIC SCHOOLS Central High School Addition & Remodeling" . Retrieved April 26, 2025.
9. Collins, Tim (July 29, 2021). "Remembering the day ZZ Top played Battle Creek's Kellogg Auditorium". WBCK News Talk.
10. Fitzpatrick, Andy (March 31, 2016). "W.K. Kellogg Auditorium a center of arts for decades". Battle Creek Enquirer.
11. Battle Creek Public Schools. "J.K. Kellogg Preparatory High School" . Retrieved April 26, 2025.
12. Merchant, Safiya (September 14, 2016). "BCPS plans second life for fieldhouse". Battle Creek Enquirer.
13. Collins, Tim (February 23, 2020). "Battle Creek Central Fieldhouse opened February 23rd, 1960". WBCK News Talk.
14. Thornton, Kurt (October 15, 2024). "I'll BC-ing You, The History of Battle Creek Central High School" (video). youtube.com.
15. Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center. "Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center" . Retrieved April 28, 2025.
16. Schweitzer Construction. "Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center" . Retrieved April 28, 2025.
17. Battle Creek Public Schools. "Discover our community" . Retrieved April 26, 2025.
18. Thornton, Kurt (October 15, 2024). "I'll BC-ing You, The History of Battle Creek Central High School" (video). youtube.com.
19. Fitzpatrick, Andy (March 31, 2016). "W.K. Kellogg Auditorium a center of arts for decades". Battle Creek Enquirer.