Holland Reporter

Wayland Union Schools had the highest enrollment among Allegan County districts, welcoming 2,765 students during the 2023-24 school year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Of all the students welcomed in the 2023-24 school year, 51.2% of them were boys, and 48.8% were girls.

Data also showed that most of the students were white, representing 86.1% of the Wayland Union Schools total enrollment.

Among the 13 districts in Allegan County, Plainwell Community Schools ranked second in enrollment numbers with 2,647 students, while Hamilton Community Schools welcomed 2,526 students and ranked third in the 2023-24 school year.

Wayland Union Schools roughly covers schools within Allegan County, with its main office in Wayland.

In the previous school year, Hamilton Community Schools had the highest number of students among Allegan County schools.

Overall student enrollment in Michigan remains below pre-pandemic levels, with white students experiencing the largest decline at 6.5%.

Academic performance has also suffered, with the state's average NAEP score dropping by 6.5 points and ethnic achievement gaps have widened. Black and Hispanic students' average math proficiency dropped by 7% in 2022, to 13.5% and 28.2%, respectively.

District	City (Main Office)	Total Enrollment
Wayland Union Schools	Wayland	2,765
Plainwell Community Schools	Plainwell	2,647
Hamilton Community Schools	Hamilton	2,526
Otsego Public Schools	Otsego	2,377
Allegan Public Schools	Allegan	2,128
Hopkins Public Schools	Hopkins	1,443
Fennville Public Schools	Fennville	1,258
Saugatuck Public Schools	Douglas	793
Martin Public Schools	Martin	619
Allegan Area Educational Service Agency	Allegan	433
Innocademy Allegan Campus	Fennville	95
Outlook Academy	Allegan	65
Glenn Public School District	Glenn	39