Capitol News

There were 1,752 Hispanic students enrolled in Eaton County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 10.9% more than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Eaton County welcomed 16,717 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, Hispanic students comprised 10.5% of the student body to be the second most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 45 schools in Eaton County, Waverly Senior High School recorded the largest enrollment of Hispanic students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 227 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 Hispanic students enrolment	Total enrollment
Meryl S. Colt Early Childhood Education Center	25%	184
Waverly Senior High School	23%	988
Waverly Middle School	21.3%	451
Winans Elementary School	20.9%	392
Greyhound Central Performance Academy	18.4%	76
Dimondale Elementary School	17.3%	381
Elmwood Elementary School	15%	379
Delta Center Elementary School	15%	528
Maple Valley Pathways High School	13%	23
Leon W. Hayes Intermediate School	12.7%	810
Kenneth T. Beagle Middle School	12.2%	835
Willow Ridge Elementary School	12%	542
Greyhound Intermediate School	10.9%	375
Potterville Elementary School	10.9%	322
Insight School of Michigan	10.6%	867
Washington Elementary School	10.2%	255
LifeTech Academy	10.1%	378
T. C. Holbrook Elementary School	9.9%	506
Grand Ledge High School	9.8%	1,704
SAIL - Waverly	9.1%	11
Greyhound Central Elementary School	8.8%	114
Charlotte Upper Elementary School	8.3%	527
Lockwood Elementary School	7.6%	303
Galewood Early Elementary School	7.5%	146
Eaton Rapids Middle School	6.8%	410
Parkview Elementary School	6.4%	283
Eaton Rapids High School	6.1%	637
Potterville Middle School	5.9%	222
Potterville High School	5.7%	209
Charlotte Middle School	5.7%	406
Charlotte Senior High School	5.6%	644
Eaton RESA Meadowview Onsite	5.6%	36
Bellevue Elementary School	5.3%	226
Olivet High School	4.7%	404
Island City Academy	4.6%	197
Maplewood School	4.5%	267
Strange School	4.5%	22
Charlotte Public Schools Project Success	4.3%	23
Maple Valley Junior-Senior High School	4.3%	375
Eaton County Youth Facility	4.2%	24
Relevant Academy of Eaton County	3.2%	62
Olivet Middle School	3%	461
Eaton RESA Meadowview Offsite	2.9%	68
Bellevue Junior-Senior High School	2.5%	281
Fern Persons Elementary School	2.1%	374