Battle Creek Times

There were 18 Hawaiian students enrolled in Calhoun County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 28% 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, Hawaiian students comprised 0.1% of the student body to be the least represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 54 schools in Calhoun County, Harper Creek Middle School recorded the largest enrollment of Hawaiian students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of four 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 Hawaiian students enrolment	Total enrollment
Dudley School	0.9%	117
Hughes Elementary School	0.8%	261
Verona Elementary School	0.5%	201
Minges Brook School	0.5%	368
Battle Creek Area Learning Center	0.5%	194
Prairieview School	0.4%	249
Harper Creek Middle School	0.4%	896
Wattles Park Elementary School	0.3%	375
Sonoma Elementary School	0.3%	351
Harper Creek High School	0.2%	823
Battle Creek Central High School	0.1%	978
Lakeview Middle School	0.1%	1,082
Pennfield Dunlap Elementary School	0%	273
Battle Creek STEM Innovation Center	0%	145
Tekonsha Schools	0%	193
Riverside Elementary School	0%	350
West Michigan Virtual Battle Creek High School	0%	370
Pennfield Middle School	0%	471
Lakeview High School	0%	1,241
Doris Klaussen Development Center	0%	239
Ann J. Kellogg School	0%	348
Marshall Middle School	0%	541
Marshall High School	0%	787
Gordon Elementary School	0%	252
Pennfield Purdy School	0%	197
Michigan Youth Challenge Academy	0%	119
Homer Middle School	0%	268
West Michigan Virtual Battle Creek Middle School	0%	96
Walters Elementary School	0%	293
Beadle Lake Elementary School	0%	333
W. K. Kellogg Preparatory High School	0%	173
Lamora Park School	0%	154
Battle Creek Montessori Academy	0%	141
Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center	0%	1
Calhoun County Juvenile Home	0%	9
Mar Lee School	0%	295
Homer Community High School	0%	247
Lillian Fletcher Elementary School	0%	319
Marshall Opportunity High School	0%	109
North Pennfield Elementary School	0%	188
Marshall Academy	0%	242
Post Franklin School	0%	219
Lakeview Alternative High School	0%	67
Pennfield Senior High School	0%	748
Arbor Academy	0%	154
Harrington Elementary School	0%	236
Fremont International Academy	0%	345
Gull Lake Virtual Partnership	0%	392
Springfield Middle School	0%	472
Valley View Elementary School	0%	434
Endeavor Charter Academy	0%	648
Westlake Elementary School	0%	349
East Leroy Elementary School	0%	199
Athens Junior-Senor High School	0%	256