Battle Creek Times

There were 1,789 Hispanic students enrolled in Calhoun County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 1.1% 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, Hispanic students comprised 9.5% of the student body to be the fourth most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 54 schools in Calhoun County, Lakeview High School recorded the largest enrollment of Hispanic students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 168 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
Arbor Academy	24%	154
Post Franklin School	17.4%	219
Verona Elementary School	16.4%	201
Prairieview School	16.1%	249
Battle Creek STEM Innovation Center	15.9%	145
Riverside Elementary School	15.7%	350
Battle Creek Central High School	15.3%	978
Battle Creek Montessori Academy	14.2%	141
Marshall Opportunity High School	13.8%	109
Lakeview High School	13.5%	1,241
Lakeview Middle School	13.3%	1,082
Springfield Middle School	12.7%	472
Dudley School	12%	117
Lamora Park School	11.7%	154
Westlake Elementary School	11.5%	349
Ann J. Kellogg School	11.5%	348
Fremont International Academy	11.3%	345
Harrington Elementary School	10.6%	236
Endeavor Charter Academy	10.5%	648
West Michigan Virtual Battle Creek Middle School	10.4%	96
Valley View Elementary School	10.4%	434
Michigan Youth Challenge Academy	10.1%	119
Doris Klaussen Development Center	10%	239
W. K. Kellogg Preparatory High School	9.2%	173
Marshall Middle School	9.1%	541
Lakeview Alternative High School	9%	67
Mar Lee School	8.8%	295
Gordon Elementary School	8.7%	252
Minges Brook School	8.4%	368
Beadle Lake Elementary School	8.4%	333
Marshall High School	8.1%	787
Gull Lake Virtual Partnership	7.4%	392
Hughes Elementary School	7.3%	261
Harper Creek Middle School	7%	896
Battle Creek Area Learning Center	6.7%	194
West Michigan Virtual Battle Creek High School	6.5%	370
North Pennfield Elementary School	6.4%	188
Pennfield Purdy School	6.1%	197
Pennfield Dunlap Elementary School	5.9%	273
Pennfield Middle School	5.9%	471
Marshall Academy	5.8%	242
Wattles Park Elementary School	5.6%	375
Sonoma Elementary School	5.4%	351
Pennfield Senior High School	5.3%	748
Homer Middle School	5.2%	268
Tekonsha Schools	5.2%	193
Harper Creek High School	5.2%	823
Lillian Fletcher Elementary School	5%	319
East Leroy Elementary School	5%	199
Walters Elementary School	4.8%	293
Homer Community High School	3.2%	247
Athens Junior-Senor High School	1.6%	256
Calhoun County Juvenile Home	0%	9
Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center	0%	1