West Central Michigan News

There were eight African American students enrolled in Pine River Area Schools in the 2022-23 school year, a 27.3% decrease compared to the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Pine River Area Schools welcomed 974 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, African American students made up 0.8% of the student body, making them the fourth most represented ethnicity in the district.

Pine River Area Schools roughly covers three schools within Osceola County and has its main office in Leroy.

Among the three schools in Pine River Area Schools, Pine River Area High School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of seven students.

Overall student enrollment in Michigan remains below pre-pandemic levels, with white students experiencing the largest decline at 6.5%.

Academic performance has also suffered, with the state's average NAEP score dropping by 6.5 points and ethnic achievement gaps widening. Black and Hispanic students' average math proficiency dropped by 7% in 2022, to 13.5% and 28.2%, respectively.

Year	Total District Enrollment	Total African American Students	African American %
2022-23	974	8	0.8%
2021-22	1,009	11	1.1%
2020-21	1,020	13	1.3%
2019-20	1,044	14	1.3%
2018-19	1,070	15	1.4%
2017-18	1,086	15	1.4%
2016-17	1,022	16	1.6%
2015-16	1,054	22	2.1%