Holland Reporter

There were 89 American Indian students enrolled in Ottawa County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 3.5% 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, American Indian students comprised 0.2% of the student body to be the second least represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 98 schools in Ottawa County, West Ottawa High School Campus recorded the largest enrollment of American Indian students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of nine 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
Zeeland Quest	1.4%	144
West Michigan Academy of Arts and Academics	1.3%	371
Innocademy	1.1%	268
Lakeshore Elementary School	0.9%	440
Great Lakes Elementary School	0.9%	426
Roerink-Knoll Education Center	0.9%	212
Woodbridge Elementary School	0.8%	361
Jefferson	0.8%	254
Coopersville West Early Childhood Center	0.6%	352
Coopersville East Elementary School	0.6%	315
Jamestown Upper Elementary School	0.6%	327
ICademy Global	0.5%	197
Pine Creek Elementary School	0.5%	418
Ferry School	0.4%	232
Forest Grove Elementary School	0.4%	254
Allendale Early Childhood Center	0.4%	279
West Ottawa High School Campus	0.4%	2,187
Quincy Elementary School	0.4%	455
Lakeshore Middle School	0.4%	733
Jeffers Elementary School	0.3%	379
Lincoln Elementary School	0.3%	361
Grand Haven High School	0.3%	1,630
Holland Language Academy at Van Raalte	0.3%	307
Elementary Puente Spanish Immersion	0.3%	380
Jamestown Lower Elementary School	0.3%	289
Griffin Elementary School	0.3%	308
Peach Plains School	0.3%	328
Black River Public School Elementary	0.3%	395
Harbor Lights Middle School	0.3%	903
South Elementary School	0.3%	391
Riley Street Middle School	0.3%	688
Baldwin Street Middle School	0.3%	610
Bauer Elementary School	0.3%	329
Black River Public School Middle-High	0.2%	569
Evergreen Elementary School	0.2%	573
Vanderbilt Charter Academy	0.2%	401
Alward Elementary School	0.2%	435
Hudsonville High School	0.2%	1,995
Waukazoo Elementary School	0.2%	466
Macatawa Bay Middle School	0.2%	632
Holland High School	0.2%	967
Zeeland East High School	0.2%	935
Allendale High School	0.1%	737
Spring Lake High School	0.1%	795
Allendale Middle School	0%	564
Zeeland West High School	0%	975
Bursley School	0%	404
North Holland Elementary School	0%	267
Mary A. White School	0%	260
Holland Virtual Technology High School	0%	48
Coopersville South Elementary School	0%	337
Oakwood Intermediate School	0%	347
Ottawa Area Center	0%	104
Eagle Crest Charter Academy	0%	561
Coopersville High School	0%	860
Lighthouse Academy Ottawa Juvenile Detention Center	0%	17
Bauerwood School	0%	480
Dunes Alternative High School	0%	81
Jenison Public Schools Early Childhood Center	0%	189
Pinewood School	0%	320
New Groningen School	0%	512
Creekside Middle School	0%	577
Lakewood Elementary School	0%	293
White Pines Intermediate School	0%	740
Jenison International Academy	0%	159
Park Elemementary School	0%	260
Walden Green Montessori	0%	251
Holmes Elementary School	0%	409
Sheldon Pines School	0%	23
Venture Academy	0%	82
Lighthouse Academy Juvenile Justice Institute	0%	14
Sandy Hill School	0%	402
Jenison Innovation Academy Elementary School	0%	83
Cityside Middle School	0%	771
Woodside Elementary School	0%	431
Lake Hills Elementary School	0%	273
Spring Lake Intermediate School	0%	330
West Ottawa Virtual Academy	0%	40
Grand Haven Cyber School	0%	106
New Options High School	0%	51
Jenison Junior High School	0%	754
Georgetown Elementary School	0%	450
Spring Lake Middle School	0%	345
Roosevelt Elementary School	0%	261
Jenison High School	0%	1,506
Rosewood School	0%	481
Robinson School	0%	223
Holland Middle School	0%	605
Holland Heights	0%	247
West	0%	413
Coopersville Middle School	0%	584
Spring Lake Alternative Education	0%	13
Central High School	0%	89
Adams Elementary School	0%	343
CAPS Academy	0%	22
Career Development School	0%	6
Sheldon Woods Elementary School	0%	145
Rosy Mound School	0%	243