Dr. Michael F. Rice Michigan superintendent of public instruction | https://radio.wcmu.org/
Dr. Michael F. Rice Michigan superintendent of public instruction | https://radio.wcmu.org/
Data showed that Montcalm County welcomed 10,472 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 4.4% of the student body to be the third most represented ethnicity in the county.
Among the 29 schools in Montcalm County, Success Virtual Learning Centers of Michigan recorded the largest enrollment of African American students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 347 students.
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 African American students enrolment | Total enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Success Virtual Learning Centers of Michigan | 21.1% | 1,648 |
| Vestaburg Community Alternative Education School Vestaburg | 13.8% | 282 |
| Satterlee School | 11.5% | 26 |
| Carson City-Crystal Alternative Academy | 3.2% | 63 |
| Walnut Hills Elementary School | 2.3% | 351 |
| Intermediate School District Local Center Programs | 2% | 50 |
| Baldwin Heights School | 1.6% | 449 |
| Lakeview High School | 1.6% | 368 |
| Greenville Senior High School | 1.4% | 1,044 |
| Cedar Crest Elementary School | 1.4% | 281 |
| Flat River Academy | 1.3% | 160 |
| Seiter Education Service Center | 1.2% | 82 |
| Carson City-Crystal High School | 1.1% | 187 |
| Montabella Elementary School | 1% | 389 |
| Greenville Middle School | 0.9% | 797 |
| Montabella Junior-Senior High School | 0.8% | 383 |
| Tri County Senior High School | 0.6% | 473 |
| Central Montcalm Middle High School | 0.4% | 739 |
| Vestaburg Community Elementary School | 0.4% | 247 |
| Tri County Middle School | 0.3% | 381 |
| Montcalm Area Independent School District (ISD) Transition Center | 0% | 26 |
| Early College at Montcalm Community College | 0% | 67 |
| Central Montcalm Elementary School | 0% | 275 |
| Central Montcalm Upper Elementary School | 0% | 284 |
| Carson City-Crystal Upper Elementary/Middle School | 0% | 262 |
| Carson City Elementary School | 0% | 216 |
| Vestaburg Community High School | 0% | 307 |
| Lakeview Elementary School | 0% | 306 |
| Lakeview Middle School | 0% | 329 |
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