Capitol News

There were 1,425 African American students enrolled in Eaton County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 10.6% 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, African American students comprised 8.5% of the student body to be the third most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 45 schools in Eaton County, Waverly Senior High School recorded the largest enrollment of African American students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 354 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
SAIL - Waverly	36.4%	11
Waverly Middle School	35.9%	451
Waverly Senior High School	35.8%	988
Winans Elementary School	31.4%	392
Eaton County Youth Facility	29.2%	24
Meryl S. Colt Early Childhood Education Center	27.7%	184
Elmwood Elementary School	26.1%	379
Insight School of Michigan	26%	867
Dimondale Elementary School	15%	381
LifeTech Academy	13.8%	378
Charlotte Public Schools Project Success	13%	23
Eaton RESA Meadowview Onsite	8.3%	36
Delta Center Elementary School	6.3%	528
Relevant Academy of Eaton County	4.8%	62
Galewood Early Elementary School	4.8%	146
Grand Ledge High School	4.2%	1,704
Potterville High School	3.8%	209
Kenneth T. Beagle Middle School	3.6%	835
Leon W. Hayes Intermediate School	3.5%	810
Washington Elementary School	3.1%	255
Willow Ridge Elementary School	2.6%	542
Charlotte Upper Elementary School	2.5%	527
Parkview Elementary School	2.1%	283
Charlotte Middle School	2%	406
Potterville Elementary School	1.6%	322
Eaton Rapids High School	1.6%	637
Eaton RESA Meadowview Offsite	1.5%	68
Island City Academy	1.5%	197
Bellevue Junior-Senior High School	1.4%	281
Potterville Middle School	1.4%	222
Greyhound Central Performance Academy	1.3%	76
Lockwood Elementary School	1.3%	303
Charlotte Senior High School	1.2%	644
Greyhound Intermediate School	1.1%	375
Olivet High School	1%	404
Eaton Rapids Middle School	1%	410
T. C. Holbrook Elementary School	1%	506
Bellevue Elementary School	0.4%	226
Maplewood School	0.4%	267
Olivet Middle School	0.2%	461
Greyhound Central Elementary School	0%	114
Fern Persons Elementary School	0%	374
Maple Valley Junior-Senior High School	0%	375
Maple Valley Pathways High School	0%	23
Strange School	0%	22