West Central Michigan News

There were 4,742 white students enrolled in Mecosta County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 0.4% more than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Mecosta County welcomed 5,361 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, white students comprised 88.5% of the student body to be the highest represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 16 schools in Mecosta County, Big Rapids High School recorded the highest enrollment of white students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 638 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	% of white students enrolment	Total enrollment
Big Rapids High School	89.4	714
Big Rapids Middle School	88.4	646
Chippewa Hills Intermediate School	90.4	513
Chippewa Hills High School	88.7	476
Morley Stanwood Elementary School	88.5	461
Riverview Elementary School	91	421
Brookside Elementary School	84.9	417
Morley Stanwood High School	91.7	362
Morley Stanwood Middle School	90.7	226
Mecosta Elementary School	89	228
Barryton Elementary School	91	221
Big Rapids Virtual School	87.5	152
Crossroads Charter Academy (7-12)	86.7	150
Crossroads Charter Academy (K-6)	76.9	160
Mecosta-Osceola Education Center	87.2	117
Mosaic School	75.3	97