Dr. Michael F. Rice Michigan superintendent of public instruction | https://radio.wcmu.org/
Dr. Michael F. Rice Michigan superintendent of public instruction | https://radio.wcmu.org/
Dexter Early Elementary Complex welcomed the largest number of 2nd-grade students in the state, registering 257 students.
Within Michigan schools, most students were enrolled in 9th-grade, with the smallest amount of students seen in pre-kindergarten.
Statewide, Wayne County was the county with the highest enrollment numbers, welcoming 257,484 students in the 2023-24 school year.
Overall student enrollment in Michigan remains below pre-pandemic levels, with white students experiencing the largest decline at 6.5%.
Academic performance has also suffered, with the state's average NAEP score dropping by 6.5 points and ethnic achievement gaps widening. Black and Hispanic students' average math proficiency dropped by 7% in 2022, to 13.5% and 28.2%, respectively.
As of July 2024, Michigan Governor Whitmer has enacted the new education budget for 2025 into law. The new budget totals $23.4 billion, a decrease of approximately $900 million from the 2024 budget of $24.3 billion. Of the new funding, $20.6 billion will be allocated to K-12 schools, compared to $21.5 billion allocated for K-12 schools this year.
However, the new budget has raised concerns among school superintendents and educators. "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.
| County | # of 2nd-grade Students Enrolled | % of Student Body | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | 20,226 | 7.9% | 257,484 |
| Oakland County | 12,632 | 7.4% | 170,705 |
| Macomb County | 8,790 | 7.6% | 116,029 |
| Kent County | 7,487 | 7.6% | 98,051 |
| Genesee County | 4,307 | 7.4% | 58,109 |
| Washtenaw County | 3,309 | 7.7% | 42,913 |
| Ottawa County | 3,075 | 7.2% | 42,756 |
| Ingham County | 2,921 | 7.7% | 38,175 |
| Kalamazoo County | 2,607 | 7.6% | 34,197 |
| Saginaw County | 1,995 | 7.8% | 25,427 |
| Muskegon County | 1,931 | 7.6% | 25,408 |
| Livingston County | 1,799 | 7.3% | 24,546 |
| Jackson County | 1,588 | 7.2% | 21,917 |
| St. Clair County | 1,524 | 7.2% | 21,066 |
| Berrien County | 1,513 | 7.1% | 21,400 |
| Calhoun County | 1,456 | 7.6% | 19,150 |
| Monroe County | 1,416 | 6.9% | 20,511 |
| Allegan County | 1,161 | 6.7% | 17,403 |
| Eaton County | 1,140 | 6.9% | 16,406 |
| Van Buren County | 1,091 | 7.3% | 14,926 |
| Lenawee County | 1,048 | 7.4% | 14,206 |
| Grand Traverse County | 908 | 7.5% | 12,169 |
| Bay County | 857 | 6.7% | 12,733 |
| Lapeer County | 843 | 7.6% | 11,163 |
| Shiawassee County | 842 | 8.1% | 10,357 |
| Midland County | 808 | 7.1% | 11,437 |
| St. Joseph County | 732 | 7.4% | 9,893 |
| Ionia County | 670 | 6.4% | 10,421 |
| Clinton County | 660 | 5.9% | 11,227 |
| Marquette County | 579 | 7.4% | 7,829 |
| Montcalm County | 569 | 5.4% | 10,596 |
| Wexford County | 561 | 7.1% | 7,917 |
| Cass County | 538 | 8.3% | 6,457 |
| Newaygo County | 520 | 7.5% | 6,931 |
| Barry County | 494 | 6.1% | 8,086 |
| Isabella County | 488 | 7.2% | 6,817 |
| Tuscola County | 483 | 7.3% | 6,631 |
| Branch County | 457 | 7% | 6,505 |
| Sanilac County | 420 | 7.6% | 5,531 |
| Houghton County | 393 | 7.4% | 5,281 |
| Hillsdale County | 393 | 7.4% | 5,277 |
| Manistee County | 386 | 6.3% | 6,096 |
| Gratiot County | 382 | 7.5% | 5,062 |
| Mecosta County | 376 | 7.4% | 5,079 |
| Chippewa County | 351 | 7.6% | 4,590 |
| Huron County | 306 | 7% | 4,346 |
| Clare County | 304 | 7.8% | 3,894 |
| Delta County | 298 | 6.8% | 4,402 |
| Osceola County | 290 | 7.9% | 3,676 |
| Iosco County | 286 | 8% | 3,576 |
| Mason County | 283 | 7.3% | 3,857 |
| Emmet County | 271 | 6.6% | 4,090 |
| Alpena County | 271 | 7.4% | 3,675 |
| Dickinson County | 271 | 7.4% | 3,662 |
| Menominee County | 260 | 7% | 3,715 |
| Charlevoix County | 249 | 7.3% | 3,407 |
| Otsego County | 245 | 7.2% | 3,426 |
| Roscommon County | 200 | 7.1% | 2,798 |
| Gladwin County | 195 | 7.7% | 2,533 |
| Antrim County | 186 | 6.7% | 2,767 |
| Oceana County | 185 | 6.9% | 2,679 |
| Cheboygan County | 171 | 7% | 2,435 |
| Missaukee County | 159 | 7.1% | 2,239 |
| Leelanau County | 155 | 8.2% | 1,893 |
| Wayne | 150 | 10% | 1,505 |
| Arenac County | 133 | 7% | 1,892 |
| Ogemaw County | 122 | 6.2% | 1,969 |
| Gogebic County | 122 | 8.1% | 1,514 |
| Crawford County | 115 | 6.9% | 1,656 |
| Kalkaska County | 112 | 6.4% | 1,763 |
| Benzie County | 109 | 7.2% | 1,524 |
| Iron County | 96 | 7.4% | 1,290 |
| Presque Isle County | 94 | 7.7% | 1,224 |
| Mackinac County | 89 | 7.9% | 1,133 |
| Alger County | 86 | 9.2% | 938 |
| Montmorency County | 82 | 10.1% | 814 |
| Alcona County | 56 | 8.2% | 683 |
| Oscoda County | 53 | 6.7% | 789 |
| Schoolcraft County | 53 | 7.5% | 708 |
| Baraga County | 51 | 6.2% | 822 |
| Lake County | 39 | 9.3% | 421 |
| Ontonagon County | 34 | 7.3% | 467 |
| Luce County | 25 | 5.3% | 468 |
| Oceana | 23 | 41.8% | 55 |
| Kent | 11 | 16.7% | 66 |
| Keweenaw County | 1 | 1.3% | 75 |
| Ottawa | 0 | 0% | 618 |
| Mecosta | 0 | 0% | 215 |
| Washtenaw | 0 | 0% | 140 |
| Ingham | 0 | 0% | 130 |
| Gratiot | 0 | 0% | 26 |
| Muskegon | 0 | 0% | 23 |
| Lenawee | 0 | 0% | 22 |
| Eaton | 0 | 0% | 7 |
| Oakland | 0 | 0% | 5 |
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