West Central Michigan News

There were 3,931 students enrolled in Mason County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 0.5% less than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Boys made up 51.8% of the county student body, while the other 48.2% were girls.

Data also showed that white students made up 84.8% of the student body, the biggest percentage in Mason County schools, followed by 9.1% of Hispanic students, 3.5% of multiracial students, 1.3% of African American students, 0.6% of American Indian students, 0.6% of Asian students and 0.1% of Hawaiian students.

Foster School had the highest enrollment among Mason County's 16 schools in the 2022-23 school year, welcoming 900 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 have widened. Black and Hispanic students' average math proficiency dropped by 7% in 2022, to 13.5% and 28.2%, respectively.

School name	Total enrollment in 2021-22	Total enrollment in 2022-23	% change
Foster School	436	900	106.4
Ludington High School	704	695	-1.3
O. J. DeJonge Middle School	462	477	3.2
Mason County Central High School	392	407	3.8
Mason County Central Middle School	300	297	-1
Scottville Elementary School	243	254	4.5
Mason County Central Upper Elementary School	261	249	-4.6
Mason County Eastern Elementary School	226	211	-6.6
Mason County Eastern Junior High/High School	185	171	-7.6
Developmental Classrooms - West Shore ESD	105	110	4.8
Gateway to Success Academy	122	107	-12.3
Academy of Science Math and Technology Early College High School	52	53	1.9
Franklin Elementary School	237	--	--
Lakeview Elementary School	226	--	--