West Central Michigan News

There were 174 Hispanic students enrolled in Mecosta County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 4.8% 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, Hispanic students comprised 3.2% of the student body to be the third highest represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 16 schools in Mecosta County, Chippewa Hills High School recorded the highest enrollment of Hispanic students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 21 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 Hispanic students enrolment	Total enrollment
Chippewa Hills High School	4.4	476
Chippewa Hills Intermediate School	3.7	513
Big Rapids High School	2.1	714
Morley Stanwood Elementary School	3	461
Big Rapids Middle School	2	646
Morley Stanwood High School	3.6	362
Crossroads Charter Academy (K-6)	6.9	160
Morley Stanwood Middle School	4.9	226
Brookside Elementary School	2.4	417
Mosaic School	10.3	97
Mecosta Elementary School	3.9	228
Barryton Elementary School	4.1	221
Crossroads Charter Academy (7-12)	4.7	150
Riverview Elementary School	1.2	421
Mecosta-Osceola Education Center	4.3	117
Big Rapids Virtual School	1.3	152