Battle Creek Times

There were 612 Asian 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, Asian students comprised 3.3% of the student body to be the third least represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 54 schools in Calhoun County, Lakeview Middle School recorded the largest enrollment of Asian students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 156 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
Westlake Elementary School	14.6%	349
Lakeview Middle School	14.4%	1,082
Lakeview High School	12.2%	1,241
Riverside Elementary School	12%	350
Prairieview School	11.2%	249
Minges Brook School	8.2%	368
Endeavor Charter Academy	7.3%	648
Doris Klaussen Development Center	4.2%	239
Valley View Elementary School	3.7%	434
Lakeview Alternative High School	1.5%	67
Gull Lake Virtual Partnership	1.5%	392
Battle Creek STEM Innovation Center	1.4%	145
Battle Creek Central High School	1.3%	978
Springfield Middle School	1.3%	472
Arbor Academy	1.3%	154
Beadle Lake Elementary School	1.2%	333
Pennfield Dunlap Elementary School	1.1%	273
Dudley School	0.9%	117
Fremont International Academy	0.9%	345
Sonoma Elementary School	0.9%	351
Marshall Middle School	0.9%	541
Marshall High School	0.9%	787
Harrington Elementary School	0.8%	236
Gordon Elementary School	0.8%	252
Michigan Youth Challenge Academy	0.8%	119
Harper Creek Middle School	0.8%	896
Post Franklin School	0.5%	219
Pennfield Purdy School	0.5%	197
Wattles Park Elementary School	0.5%	375
West Michigan Virtual Battle Creek High School	0.5%	370
Homer Middle School	0.4%	268
Harper Creek High School	0.4%	823
Pennfield Senior High School	0.3%	748
Pennfield Middle School	0.2%	471
Hughes Elementary School	0%	261
Lamora Park School	0%	154
Lillian Fletcher Elementary School	0%	319
W. K. Kellogg Preparatory High School	0%	173
Ann J. Kellogg School	0%	348
Marshall Opportunity High School	0%	109
Walters Elementary School	0%	293
Battle Creek Montessori Academy	0%	141
Marshall Academy	0%	242
Battle Creek Area Learning Center	0%	194
North Pennfield Elementary School	0%	188
Verona Elementary School	0%	201
West Michigan Virtual Battle Creek Middle School	0%	96
East Leroy Elementary School	0%	199
Tekonsha Schools	0%	193
Homer Community High School	0%	247
Mar Lee School	0%	295
Athens Junior-Senor High School	0%	256
Calhoun County Juvenile Home	0%	9
Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center	0%	1