West Central Michigan News

There were 47 Asian students enrolled in Montcalm County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 17.5% more than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Montcalm County welcomed 10,472 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, Asian students comprised 0.4% of the student body to be the third least represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 29 schools in Montcalm County, Success Virtual Learning Centers of Michigan recorded the largest enrollment of Asian students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 17 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 Asian students enrolment	Total enrollment
Carson City-Crystal High School	1.6%	187
Early College at Montcalm Community College	1.5%	67
Seiter Education Service Center	1.2%	82
Success Virtual Learning Centers of Michigan	1%	1,648
Tri County Middle School	1%	381
Baldwin Heights School	0.9%	449
Central Montcalm Upper Elementary School	0.7%	284
Tri County Senior High School	0.6%	473
Vestaburg Community Alternative Education School Vestaburg	0.4%	282
Central Montcalm Elementary School	0.4%	275
Carson City-Crystal Upper Elementary/Middle School	0.4%	262
Lakeview Elementary School	0.3%	306
Lakeview High School	0.3%	368
Greenville Senior High School	0.3%	1,044
Walnut Hills Elementary School	0.3%	351
Lakeview Middle School	0.3%	329
Greenville Middle School	0.1%	797
Central Montcalm Middle High School	0.1%	739
Carson City-Crystal Alternative Academy	0%	63
Montcalm Area Independent School District (ISD) Transition Center	0%	26
Satterlee School	0%	26
Intermediate School District Local Center Programs	0%	50
Carson City Elementary School	0%	216
Vestaburg Community Elementary School	0%	247
Cedar Crest Elementary School	0%	281
Vestaburg Community High School	0%	307
Montabella Elementary School	0%	389
Flat River Academy	0%	160
Montabella Junior-Senior High School	0%	383