Battle Creek Times

There were 2,070 multiracial students enrolled in Calhoun County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 3% more 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, multiracial students comprised 11% of the student body to be the third most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 54 schools in Calhoun County, Lakeview Middle School recorded the largest enrollment of multiracial students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 154 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 multiracial students enrolment	Total enrollment
Valley View Elementary School	21.9%	434
Fremont International Academy	21.7%	345
Lamora Park School	21.4%	154
Endeavor Charter Academy	20.5%	648
Verona Elementary School	20.4%	201
Springfield Middle School	19.1%	472
Dudley School	18.8%	117
Prairieview School	18.5%	249
Battle Creek Montessori Academy	18.4%	141
Post Franklin School	17.8%	219
Minges Brook School	17.4%	368
Ann J. Kellogg School	15.5%	348
W. K. Kellogg Preparatory High School	14.5%	173
Lakeview Middle School	14.2%	1,082
Battle Creek Area Learning Center	13.9%	194
Battle Creek Central High School	13.8%	978
West Michigan Virtual Battle Creek Middle School	12.5%	96
Battle Creek STEM Innovation Center	12.4%	145
Westlake Elementary School	12.3%	349
Harrington Elementary School	12.3%	236
Lakeview Alternative High School	11.9%	67
Arbor Academy	11.7%	154
Riverside Elementary School	11.4%	350
Pennfield Dunlap Elementary School	11.4%	273
Beadle Lake Elementary School	11.1%	333
Wattles Park Elementary School	10.4%	375
East Leroy Elementary School	10.1%	199
Lakeview High School	9.8%	1,241
Pennfield Purdy School	9.6%	197
Pennfield Senior High School	9.5%	748
Pennfield Middle School	9.3%	471
Marshall Opportunity High School	9.2%	109
Sonoma Elementary School	8.8%	351
Hughes Elementary School	8.4%	261
Michigan Youth Challenge Academy	8.4%	119
Harper Creek Middle School	8.1%	896
West Michigan Virtual Battle Creek High School	8.1%	370
Athens Junior-Senor High School	7.8%	256
Marshall Middle School	7.6%	541
Gordon Elementary School	7.5%	252
Harper Creek High School	7.3%	823
North Pennfield Elementary School	6.9%	188
Walters Elementary School	6.8%	293
Doris Klaussen Development Center	6.7%	239
Marshall High School	5.5%	787
Lillian Fletcher Elementary School	4.4%	319
Gull Lake Virtual Partnership	4.3%	392
Mar Lee School	2.4%	295
Homer Middle School	2.2%	268
Tekonsha Schools	1.6%	193
Marshall Academy	1.2%	242
Homer Community High School	0.8%	247
Calhoun County Juvenile Home	0%	9
Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center	0%	1