Holland Reporter

There were 1,190 Asian students enrolled in Ottawa County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 1.4% less 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, Asian students comprised 2.8% of the student body to be the fourth most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 98 schools in Ottawa County, West Ottawa High School Campus recorded the largest enrollment of Asian students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 162 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 Asian students enrolment	Total enrollment
Eagle Crest Charter Academy	14.6%	561
Great Lakes Elementary School	8.5%	426
North Holland Elementary School	8.2%	267
West Ottawa High School Campus	7.4%	2,187
Lighthouse Academy Juvenile Justice Institute	7.1%	14
Macatawa Bay Middle School	6.6%	632
Black River Public School Middle-High	5.3%	569
Pine Creek Elementary School	5.3%	418
Zeeland West High School	5.2%	975
West	5.1%	413
Roosevelt Elementary School	5%	261
Harbor Lights Middle School	5%	903
West Ottawa Virtual Academy	5%	40
Jamestown Lower Elementary School	4.5%	289
Holland Heights	4.5%	247
Jamestown Upper Elementary School	4.3%	327
Griffin Elementary School	4.2%	308
Holland High School	4.1%	967
Ferry School	3.9%	232
South Elementary School	3.8%	391
Black River Public School Elementary	3.8%	395
Lakewood Elementary School	3.8%	293
Roerink-Knoll Education Center	3.8%	212
New Groningen School	3.7%	512
Zeeland East High School	3.4%	935
Woodbridge Elementary School	3.3%	361
Riley Street Middle School	3.2%	688
Woodside Elementary School	3.2%	431
Creekside Middle School	3.1%	577
Quincy Elementary School	3.1%	455
Ottawa Area Center	2.9%	104
Bauerwood School	2.9%	480
Sheldon Woods Elementary School	2.8%	145
Robinson School	2.7%	223
Holland Middle School	2.6%	605
Cityside Middle School	2.6%	771
Lake Hills Elementary School	2.6%	273
Dunes Alternative High School	2.5%	81
ICademy Global	2.5%	197
Georgetown Elementary School	2.4%	450
Adams Elementary School	2.3%	343
Spring Lake High School	2.1%	795
Peach Plains School	2.1%	328
Lakeshore Middle School	2%	733
Forest Grove Elementary School	2%	254
Bursley School	2%	404
Park Elemementary School	1.9%	260
Lincoln Elementary School	1.9%	361
Hudsonville High School	1.9%	1,995
Grand Haven High School	1.8%	1,630
Waukazoo Elementary School	1.7%	466
Jeffers Elementary School	1.6%	379
Rosy Mound School	1.6%	243
Spring Lake Intermediate School	1.5%	330
Jenison Junior High School	1.5%	754
Vanderbilt Charter Academy	1.5%	401
Baldwin Street Middle School	1.5%	610
White Pines Intermediate School	1.4%	740
West Michigan Academy of Arts and Academics	1.3%	371
Pinewood School	1.3%	320
Jenison International Academy	1.3%	159
Sandy Hill School	1.2%	402
Venture Academy	1.2%	82
Bauer Elementary School	1.2%	329
Jenison High School	1.2%	1,506
Spring Lake Middle School	1.2%	345
Mary A. White School	1.2%	260
Jefferson	1.2%	254
Innocademy	1.1%	268
Allendale High School	1.1%	737
Lakeshore Elementary School	0.9%	440
Alward Elementary School	0.9%	435
Zeeland Quest	0.7%	144
Holland Language Academy at Van Raalte	0.7%	307
Allendale Middle School	0.7%	564
Evergreen Elementary School	0.7%	573
Holmes Elementary School	0.7%	409
Coopersville West Early Childhood Center	0.6%	352
Oakwood Intermediate School	0.6%	347
Rosewood School	0.6%	481
Elementary Puente Spanish Immersion	0.5%	380
Coopersville South Elementary School	0.3%	337
Coopersville Middle School	0.3%	584
Coopersville High School	0.2%	860
Jenison Innovation Academy Elementary School	0%	83
Walden Green Montessori	0%	251
Allendale Early Childhood Center	0%	279
Coopersville East Elementary School	0%	315
Jenison Public Schools Early Childhood Center	0%	189
Grand Haven Cyber School	0%	106
Sheldon Pines School	0%	23
Central High School	0%	89
New Options High School	0%	51
Lighthouse Academy Ottawa Juvenile Detention Center	0%	17
Spring Lake Alternative Education	0%	13
CAPS Academy	0%	22
Holland Virtual Technology High School	0%	48
Career Development School	0%	6