Holland Reporter

There were 8,424 Hispanic students enrolled in Ottawa County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 2% more than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Ottawa County welcomed 42,379 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, Hispanic students comprised 19.9% of the student body to be the second most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 98 schools in Ottawa County, West Ottawa High School Campus recorded the largest enrollment of Hispanic students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 997 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 Hispanic students enrolment	Total enrollment
Holland Virtual Technology High School	66.7%	48
Woodside Elementary School	66.6%	431
Pine Creek Elementary School	63.9%	418
Holland Language Academy at Van Raalte	63.2%	307
Vanderbilt Charter Academy	57.1%	401
Dunes Alternative High School	55.6%	81
Great Lakes Elementary School	54%	426
North Holland Elementary School	52.1%	267
Jefferson	50.8%	254
Macatawa Bay Middle School	50%	632
Holland High School	48.7%	967
Holland Heights	47%	247
Eagle Crest Charter Academy	46.2%	561
West Ottawa High School Campus	45.6%	2,187
Harbor Lights Middle School	43.9%	903
Holland Middle School	42.5%	605
Innocademy	40.7%	268
West Ottawa Virtual Academy	40%	40
West	39%	413
Lakeshore Elementary School	38%	440
Sheldon Woods Elementary School	34.5%	145
Venture Academy	31.7%	82
Roosevelt Elementary School	29.9%	261
Black River Public School Middle-High	24.1%	569
Sheldon Pines School	21.7%	23
Black River Public School Elementary	21.3%	395
Lincoln Elementary School	19.7%	361
New Options High School	19.6%	51
Woodbridge Elementary School	19.4%	361
New Groningen School	19.3%	512
Lakewood Elementary School	18.8%	293
Creekside Middle School	18%	577
Zeeland West High School	17.3%	975
Zeeland East High School	17.1%	935
Robinson School	16.6%	223
Cityside Middle School	16.2%	771
Elementary Puente Spanish Immersion	15.8%	380
Allendale Middle School	14.9%	564
ICademy Global	14.7%	197
Quincy Elementary School	14.7%	455
Bursley School	14.6%	404
Ottawa Area Center	14.4%	104
Oakwood Intermediate School	14.4%	347
Jenison Public Schools Early Childhood Center	14.3%	189
Lighthouse Academy Juvenile Justice Institute	14.3%	14
Sandy Hill School	14.2%	402
Allendale High School	14.1%	737
Jenison International Academy	13.8%	159
CAPS Academy	13.6%	22
Evergreen Elementary School	12.7%	573
Jenison Innovation Academy Elementary School	12%	83
Adams Elementary School	12%	343
West Michigan Academy of Arts and Academics	11.9%	371
Zeeland Quest	11.8%	144
Allendale Early Childhood Center	11.8%	279
Waukazoo Elementary School	11.2%	466
Jenison Junior High School	10.6%	754
South Elementary School	10.5%	391
Peach Plains School	10.4%	328
Jenison High School	10.4%	1,506
Roerink-Knoll Education Center	10.4%	212
Mary A. White School	10.4%	260
Coopersville East Elementary School	9.8%	315
Jamestown Lower Elementary School	9.7%	289
Grand Haven Cyber School	9.4%	106
Riley Street Middle School	9.3%	688
Bauerwood School	9.2%	480
Griffin Elementary School	9.1%	308
Central High School	9%	89
Coopersville South Elementary School	8.9%	337
Pinewood School	8.8%	320
Ferry School	8.6%	232
Lake Hills Elementary School	8.4%	273
Coopersville Middle School	8.4%	584
Grand Haven High School	8.2%	1,630
White Pines Intermediate School	8.1%	740
Coopersville High School	8%	860
Lakeshore Middle School	7.6%	733
Coopersville West Early Childhood Center	7.4%	352
Forest Grove Elementary School	7.1%	254
Hudsonville High School	6.2%	1,995
Baldwin Street Middle School	5.9%	610
Holmes Elementary School	5.9%	409
Lighthouse Academy Ottawa Juvenile Detention Center	5.9%	17
Rosy Mound School	5.8%	243
Jamestown Upper Elementary School	5.8%	327
Bauer Elementary School	5.2%	329
Park Elemementary School	5%	260
Georgetown Elementary School	4.9%	450
Rosewood School	4.8%	481
Jeffers Elementary School	4.7%	379
Spring Lake Middle School	4.1%	345
Walden Green Montessori	4%	251
Spring Lake Intermediate School	3.9%	330
Alward Elementary School	3.9%	435
Spring Lake High School	3.4%	795
Spring Lake Alternative Education	0%	13
Career Development School	0%	6