Tri-City Sun

There were five African American students enrolled in Ithaca Public Schools in the 2022-23 school year, a 66.7% increase compared to the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Ithaca Public Schools welcomed 1,020 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, African American students made up 0.5% of the student body, making them the third least represented ethnicity in the district.

Ithaca Public Schools roughly covers three schools within Gratiot County and has its main office in Ithaca.

Among the three schools in Ithaca Public Schools, North Elementary School and South Elementary School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of two students.

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.

Year	Total District Enrollment	Total African American Students	African American %
2022-23	1,020	5	0.5%
2021-22	1,022	3	0.3%
2020-21	1,043	2	0.2%
2019-20	1,076	2	0.2%
2018-19	1,085	1	0.1%
2017-18	1,155	2	0.2%
2016-17	1,193	5	0.4%
2015-16	1,387	43	3.1%