West Central Michigan News

Big Rapids High School had the largest enrollment among Mecosta County schools, welcoming 747 students during the 2023-24 school year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Of all the students welcomed in the 2023-24 school year, 51.1% of them were boys, and 48.9% were girls.

Data also showed that most of the students were white, representing 90.1% of the Big Rapids High School total enrollment.

Among the 16 schools in Mecosta County, Big Rapids Middle School ranked second in enrollment numbers with 618 students, while Chippewa Hills Intermediate School welcomed 515 students and ranked third in the 2023-24 school year.

Big Rapids High School is part of Big Rapids Public Schools, which roughly covers schools within Mecosta County, with its main office in Big Rapids.

In the previous school year, Big Rapids High School also had the largest number of students among Mecosta County schools.

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	City	Total School Enrollment
Big Rapids High School	Big Rapids	747
Big Rapids Middle School	Big Rapids	618
Chippewa Hills Intermediate School	Remus	515
Chippewa Hills High School	Remus	459
Morley Stanwood Elementary School	Morley	432
Brookside Elementary School	Big Rapids	342
Riverview Elementary School	Big Rapids	321
Morley Stanwood High School	Morley	309
Mecosta Elementary School	Mecosta	252
Morley Stanwood Middle School	Morley	234
Barryton Elementary School	Barryton	205
Crossroads Charter Academy (K-6)	Big Rapids	146
Crossroads Charter Academy (7-12)	Big Rapids	144
Big Rapids Virtual School	Big Rapids	133
Mecosta-Osceola Education Center	Big Rapids	131
Mosaic School	Remus	91