Capitol News

There were 443 Asian students enrolled in Eaton County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 7% 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, Asian students comprised 2.6% of the student body to be the third least represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 45 schools in Eaton County, Grand Ledge High School and Delta Center Elementary School recorded the largest enrollment of Asian students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 63 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
Delta Center Elementary School	11.9%	528
Meryl S. Colt Early Childhood Education Center	7.1%	184
Willow Ridge Elementary School	6.3%	542
Leon W. Hayes Intermediate School	4.9%	810
Waverly Senior High School	4.5%	988
Greyhound Central Elementary School	4.4%	114
Waverly Middle School	4.2%	451
Elmwood Elementary School	4.2%	379
Kenneth T. Beagle Middle School	4.1%	835
Winans Elementary School	4.1%	392
Grand Ledge High School	3.7%	1,704
Dimondale Elementary School	3.4%	381
Galewood Early Elementary School	2.1%	146
Potterville High School	1.9%	209
Potterville Elementary School	1.6%	322
Relevant Academy of Eaton County	1.6%	62
Charlotte Upper Elementary School	1.5%	527
Eaton RESA Meadowview Offsite	1.5%	68
Potterville Middle School	1.4%	222
Lockwood Elementary School	1.3%	303
Olivet Middle School	1.3%	461
Eaton Rapids High School	1.3%	637
Washington Elementary School	1.2%	255
Eaton Rapids Middle School	1.2%	410
Greyhound Intermediate School	1.1%	375
Charlotte Senior High School	1.1%	644
Fern Persons Elementary School	0.8%	374
LifeTech Academy	0.8%	378
Parkview Elementary School	0.7%	283
Bellevue Junior-Senior High School	0.7%	281
Charlotte Middle School	0.7%	406
Maple Valley Junior-Senior High School	0.5%	375
Olivet High School	0.5%	404
Insight School of Michigan	0.3%	867
T. C. Holbrook Elementary School	0.2%	506
Strange School	0%	22
Eaton County Youth Facility	0%	24
SAIL - Waverly	0%	11
Charlotte Public Schools Project Success	0%	23
Maple Valley Pathways High School	0%	23
Eaton RESA Meadowview Onsite	0%	36
Greyhound Central Performance Academy	0%	76
Island City Academy	0%	197
Bellevue Elementary School	0%	226
Maplewood School	0%	267