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/
Novi Middle School welcomed the largest number of 8th-grade students in the state, registering 544 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 8th-grade Students Enrolled | % of Student Body | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | 19,030 | 7.4% | 257,484 |
| Oakland County | 13,020 | 7.6% | 170,705 |
| Macomb County | 8,935 | 7.7% | 116,029 |
| Kent County | 7,257 | 7.4% | 98,051 |
| Genesee County | 4,358 | 7.5% | 58,109 |
| Ottawa County | 3,330 | 7.8% | 42,756 |
| Washtenaw County | 3,065 | 7.1% | 42,913 |
| Ingham County | 2,838 | 7.4% | 38,175 |
| Kalamazoo County | 2,490 | 7.3% | 34,197 |
| Muskegon County | 1,897 | 7.5% | 25,408 |
| Livingston County | 1,819 | 7.4% | 24,546 |
| Saginaw County | 1,777 | 7% | 25,427 |
| Berrien County | 1,659 | 7.8% | 21,400 |
| Jackson County | 1,655 | 7.6% | 21,917 |
| Monroe County | 1,521 | 7.4% | 20,511 |
| St. Clair County | 1,419 | 6.7% | 21,066 |
| Calhoun County | 1,411 | 7.4% | 19,150 |
| Allegan County | 1,381 | 7.9% | 17,403 |
| Eaton County | 1,213 | 7.4% | 16,406 |
| Van Buren County | 1,078 | 7.2% | 14,926 |
| Lenawee County | 1,001 | 7% | 14,206 |
| Bay County | 971 | 7.6% | 12,733 |
| Clinton County | 868 | 7.7% | 11,227 |
| Grand Traverse County | 865 | 7.1% | 12,169 |
| Midland County | 853 | 7.5% | 11,437 |
| Lapeer County | 825 | 7.4% | 11,163 |
| Montcalm County | 773 | 7.3% | 10,596 |
| Shiawassee County | 720 | 7% | 10,357 |
| St. Joseph County | 699 | 7.1% | 9,893 |
| Wexford County | 688 | 8.7% | 7,917 |
| Barry County | 652 | 8.1% | 8,086 |
| Marquette County | 563 | 7.2% | 7,829 |
| Manistee County | 551 | 9% | 6,096 |
| Ionia County | 549 | 5.3% | 10,421 |
| Branch County | 529 | 8.1% | 6,505 |
| Isabella County | 524 | 7.7% | 6,817 |
| Newaygo County | 501 | 7.2% | 6,931 |
| Tuscola County | 489 | 7.4% | 6,631 |
| Cass County | 471 | 7.3% | 6,457 |
| Sanilac County | 426 | 7.7% | 5,531 |
| Gratiot County | 407 | 8% | 5,062 |
| Mecosta County | 402 | 7.9% | 5,079 |
| Houghton County | 401 | 7.6% | 5,281 |
| Huron County | 381 | 8.8% | 4,346 |
| Hillsdale County | 379 | 7.2% | 5,277 |
| Chippewa County | 341 | 7.4% | 4,590 |
| Delta County | 339 | 7.7% | 4,402 |
| Menominee County | 315 | 8.5% | 3,715 |
| Emmet County | 307 | 7.5% | 4,090 |
| Mason County | 297 | 7.7% | 3,857 |
| Clare County | 289 | 7.4% | 3,894 |
| Alpena County | 280 | 7.6% | 3,675 |
| Charlevoix County | 277 | 8.1% | 3,407 |
| Otsego County | 269 | 7.9% | 3,426 |
| Osceola County | 260 | 7.1% | 3,676 |
| Iosco County | 258 | 7.2% | 3,576 |
| Dickinson County | 242 | 6.6% | 3,662 |
| Oceana County | 237 | 8.8% | 2,679 |
| Antrim County | 232 | 8.4% | 2,767 |
| Gladwin County | 190 | 7.5% | 2,533 |
| Roscommon County | 185 | 6.6% | 2,798 |
| Cheboygan County | 178 | 7.3% | 2,435 |
| Missaukee County | 169 | 7.5% | 2,239 |
| Ogemaw County | 158 | 8% | 1,969 |
| Leelanau County | 146 | 7.7% | 1,893 |
| Kalkaska County | 143 | 8.1% | 1,763 |
| Arenac County | 131 | 6.9% | 1,892 |
| Crawford County | 121 | 7.3% | 1,656 |
| Iron County | 116 | 9% | 1,290 |
| Benzie County | 108 | 7.1% | 1,524 |
| Gogebic County | 105 | 6.9% | 1,514 |
| Presque Isle County | 95 | 7.8% | 1,224 |
| Wayne | 93 | 6.2% | 1,505 |
| Alger County | 82 | 8.7% | 938 |
| Mackinac County | 77 | 6.8% | 1,133 |
| Baraga County | 75 | 9.1% | 822 |
| Oscoda County | 67 | 8.5% | 789 |
| Luce County | 53 | 11.3% | 468 |
| Washtenaw | 51 | 36.4% | 140 |
| Schoolcraft County | 48 | 6.8% | 708 |
| Montmorency County | 45 | 5.5% | 814 |
| Alcona County | 45 | 6.6% | 683 |
| Ontonagon County | 42 | 9% | 467 |
| Lake County | 26 | 6.2% | 421 |
| Ingham | 3 | 2.3% | 130 |
| Muskegon | 1 | 4.3% | 23 |
| Ottawa | 0 | 0% | 618 |
| Mecosta | 0 | 0% | 215 |
| Keweenaw County | 0 | 0% | 75 |
| Kent | 0 | 0% | 66 |
| Oceana | 0 | 0% | 55 |
| Gratiot | 0 | 0% | 26 |
| Lenawee | 0 | 0% | 22 |
| Eaton | 0 | 0% | 7 |
| Oakland | 0 | 0% | 5 |
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