Holland Reporter

There were 67 American Indian students enrolled in Allegan County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 8.2% less 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, American Indian students comprised 0.4% of the student body to be the second least represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 53 schools in Allegan County, Wayland Union Middle School and Wayland High School recorded the largest enrollment of American Indian students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of six 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 American Indian students enrolment	Total enrollment
RJ Steeby School	1.6%	256
Allegan Online K-8	1.4%	73
Dorr School	1.3%	311
Renaissance High School	1.2%	86
Baseline Middle School	1.1%	377
Bessie B. Baker School	1.1%	280
Wayland Union Middle School	1%	611
Hopkins Elementary School	1%	393
Robert D. Brandon Elementary School	1%	299
Wayland High School	0.8%	800
Hopkins High School	0.8%	477
Hillside Learning Behavior Center	0.8%	129
North Shore Elementary School	0.8%	255
Dawson Elementary School	0.7%	278
Pullman Elementary School	0.6%	165
L. E. White Middle School	0.5%	427
Pine Street Elementary School	0.5%	413
Saugatuck Middle School	0.5%	186
Plainwell High School	0.5%	828
Sycamore Elementary School	0.4%	224
Allegan High School	0.4%	543
Hopkins Middle School	0.3%	321
Douglas Elementary School	0.3%	366
Otsego Middle School	0.2%	542
Plainwell Middle School	0.2%	569
Washington Street Elementary School	0.2%	448
Starr Elementary School	0.2%	410
Gilkey Elementary School	0.2%	439
Hamilton Middle School	0.1%	707
Hamilton High School	0.1%	793
Bentheim Elementary School	0%	281
Saugatuck High School	0%	267
North Ward Elementary School	0%	29
Fennville Elementary School	0%	503
Pine Trails Elementary School	0%	326
Fennville Public High School	0%	383
Outlook Academy Youth Home Campus	0%	11
Innocademy Allegan Campus	0%	102
Allegan Alternative High School	0%	112
Glenn Public School	0%	41
Outlook Academy	0%	35
Fennville Middle School	0%	293
West Ward Elementary School	0%	247
Blue Star Elementary School	0%	202
Hamilton Flex	0%	172
Paris Ridge Elementary School	0%	303
Otsego High School	0%	708
Pearl Alternative/Adult Education School	0%	35
Otsego West Campus High School	0%	19
Dix Street Elementary School	0%	357
Career Connections Academy	0%	37
Martin High School	0%	330
Hamilton Elementary School	0%	359