Holland Reporter

There were 840 multiracial students enrolled in Allegan County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 5.9% more than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Allegan County welcomed 17,158 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, multiracial students comprised 4.9% of the student body to be the third most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 53 schools in Allegan County, Baseline Middle School recorded the largest enrollment of multiracial students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 43 students.

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,427,386 students enrolled in Michigan schools, a figure 4.8% below the pre-pandemic total of 1,499,552 in 2019-20, with white students seeing the largest decline of approximately 3%.

Academic performance in Michigan remains below pre-pandemic levels. According to the 2024 NAEP results, the share of students reaching the basic benchmark in core subjects is about 10 percentage points lower than in 2019—except for fourth-grade math, which saw a decline of just 2 points.

Achievement gaps between ethnic groups also persist. On average, Hispanic students scored 15 points below white students. The gap was even wider for Black students, who scored about 30 points lower than their white peers.

The 2025 education budget, approved by Gov. Whitmer last July, totals $23.4 billion—$900 million less than the previous year’s budget. K-12 schools are working with $20.6 billion, a reduction from the $21.5 billion allocated in 2024.

However, some school superintendents and educators were concerned about the new budget. "Schools cannot function properly without adequate funding for safety and mental health," stated Rep. David Martin, R-Davison, referring to a significant cut of around $301 million from school safety and mental health programs. Based on the current bill, the program will receive just $26.5 million.

School name	% of multiracial students enrolment	Total enrollment
Otsego West Campus High School	15.8%	19
Dix Street Elementary School	11.5%	357
Baseline Middle School	11.4%	377
North Shore Elementary School	11%	255
Pullman Elementary School	9.1%	165
Outlook Academy	8.6%	35
Dawson Elementary School	8.3%	278
Hamilton Flex	7.6%	172
Paris Ridge Elementary School	7.6%	303
Pine Trails Elementary School	7.4%	326
RJ Steeby School	6.6%	256
Bessie B. Baker School	6.4%	280
Allegan High School	6.3%	543
Hillside Learning Behavior Center	6.2%	129
Dorr School	5.8%	311
West Ward Elementary School	5.7%	247
Otsego Middle School	5.7%	542
Pearl Alternative/Adult Education School	5.7%	35
Gilkey Elementary School	5.5%	439
Allegan Online K-8	5.5%	73
L. E. White Middle School	5.4%	427
Allegan Alternative High School	5.4%	112
Pine Street Elementary School	5.3%	413
Starr Elementary School	5.1%	410
Plainwell Middle School	5.1%	569
Robert D. Brandon Elementary School	5%	299
Washington Street Elementary School	4.9%	448
Wayland High School	4.6%	800
Wayland Union Middle School	4.6%	611
Hamilton Elementary School	4.5%	359
Blue Star Elementary School	4.5%	202
Bentheim Elementary School	4.3%	281
Hamilton Middle School	4.2%	707
Fennville Middle School	4.1%	293
Hopkins Elementary School	3.8%	393
Hopkins Middle School	3.4%	321
North Ward Elementary School	3.4%	29
Otsego High School	3.4%	708
Plainwell High School	3.1%	828
Douglas Elementary School	3%	366
Innocademy Allegan Campus	2.9%	102
Martin High School	2.7%	330
Hopkins High School	2.7%	477
Sycamore Elementary School	2.7%	224
Hamilton High School	2.6%	793
Fennville Elementary School	2.6%	503
Glenn Public School	2.4%	41
Fennville Public High School	2.3%	383
Renaissance High School	2.3%	86
Saugatuck Middle School	2.2%	186
Saugatuck High School	1.1%	267
Career Connections Academy	0%	37
Outlook Academy Youth Home Campus	0%	11