Battle Creek Times

There were 2,858 African American students enrolled in Calhoun County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 1.4% less than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Calhoun County welcomed 18,808 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 15.2% of the student body to be the second most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 54 schools in Calhoun County, Battle Creek Central High School recorded the largest enrollment of African American students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 409 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
W. K. Kellogg Preparatory High School	50.3%	173
Battle Creek STEM Innovation Center	49.7%	145
Dudley School	47.9%	117
Calhoun County Juvenile Home	44.4%	9
Ann J. Kellogg School	43.1%	348
Fremont International Academy	42.6%	345
Battle Creek Central High School	41.8%	978
Harrington Elementary School	40.3%	236
Springfield Middle School	38.8%	472
Post Franklin School	38.8%	219
Verona Elementary School	38.8%	201
Lamora Park School	33.1%	154
Marshall Opportunity High School	31.2%	109
Endeavor Charter Academy	29.5%	648
Arbor Academy	29.2%	154
Marshall Academy	28.5%	242
Lakeview Alternative High School	28.4%	67
Valley View Elementary School	26%	434
Minges Brook School	20.1%	368
Battle Creek Area Learning Center	18.6%	194
Michigan Youth Challenge Academy	17.6%	119
Prairieview School	15.7%	249
Lakeview Middle School	14%	1,082
Doris Klaussen Development Center	13.8%	239
Battle Creek Montessori Academy	13.5%	141
Lakeview High School	13.1%	1,241
West Michigan Virtual Battle Creek Middle School	12.5%	96
West Michigan Virtual Battle Creek High School	11.6%	370
Marshall Middle School	10.7%	541
Riverside Elementary School	9.1%	350
Pennfield Purdy School	8.1%	197
Marshall High School	7.4%	787
Westlake Elementary School	6.3%	349
Pennfield Middle School	5.3%	471
Pennfield Dunlap Elementary School	4.8%	273
Walters Elementary School	4.4%	293
Pennfield Senior High School	3.9%	748
North Pennfield Elementary School	3.2%	188
Gull Lake Virtual Partnership	3.1%	392
Beadle Lake Elementary School	3%	333
Harper Creek High School	2.9%	823
Harper Creek Middle School	2.8%	896
Hughes Elementary School	2.7%	261
Sonoma Elementary School	2.3%	351
Wattles Park Elementary School	2.1%	375
Homer Middle School	1.5%	268
Mar Lee School	1%	295
Athens Junior-Senor High School	0.8%	256
Gordon Elementary School	0.8%	252
East Leroy Elementary School	0.5%	199
Tekonsha Schools	0.5%	193
Lillian Fletcher Elementary School	0%	319
Homer Community High School	0%	247
Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center	0%	1