West Central Michigan News

There were six Hawaiian students enrolled in Mecosta County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 20% more than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Mecosta County welcomed 5,033 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, Hawaiian students comprised 0.1% of the student body to be the least represented ethnicity in the county.

Crossroads Charter Academy (7-12), Crossroads Charter Academy (K-6), Morley Stanwood Elementary School, Big Rapids High School, Barryton Elementary School, and Chippewa Hills Intermediate School were the only schools in Mecosta County that enrolled Hawaiian students in the 2024-25 school year.

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,427,386 students enrolled in Michigan schools, a figure 4.8% below the pre-pandemic total of 1,499,552 in 2019-20, with white students seeing the largest decline of approximately 3%.

Academic performance in Michigan remains below pre-pandemic levels. According to the 2024 NAEP results, the share of students reaching the basic benchmark in core subjects is about 10 percentage points lower than in 2019—except for fourth-grade math, which saw a decline of just 2 points.

Achievement gaps between ethnic groups also persist. On average, Hispanic students scored 15 points below white students. The gap was even wider for Black students, who scored about 30 points lower than their white peers.

The 2025 education budget, approved by Gov. Whitmer last July, totals $23.4 billion—$900 million less than the previous year’s budget. K-12 schools are working with $20.6 billion, a reduction from the $21.5 billion allocated in 2024.

However, some school superintendents and educators were concerned about the new budget. "Schools cannot function properly without adequate funding for safety and mental health," stated Rep. David Martin, R-Davison, referring to a significant cut of around $301 million from school safety and mental health programs. Based on the current bill, the program will receive just $26.5 million.

School name	% of Hawaiian students enrolment	Total enrollment
Crossroads Charter Academy (K-6)	1%	103
Crossroads Charter Academy (7-12)	0.9%	117
Barryton Elementary School	0.5%	204
Morley Stanwood Elementary School	0.2%	437
Chippewa Hills Intermediate School	0.2%	503
Big Rapids High School	0.1%	755
Big Rapids Middle School	0%	644
Riverview Elementary School	0%	346
Mecosta-Osceola Education Center	0%	144
Morley Stanwood High School	0%	287
Morley Stanwood Middle School	0%	234
Brookside Elementary School	0%	336
Chippewa Hills High School	0%	463
Big Rapids Virtual School	0%	115
Mecosta Elementary School	0%	256
Mosaic School	0%	89