Tri-City Sun

There were 44 African American students enrolled in Gratiot County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 13.7% less than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Gratiot County welcomed 5,256 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 0.8% of the student body to be the fourth highest represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 21 schools in Gratiot County, St. Louis High School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of eight 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 have widened. Black and Hispanic students' average math proficiency dropped by 7% in 2022, to 13.5% and 28.2%, respectively.

School name	% of African American students enrolment	Total enrollment
St. Louis High School	2.7	292
Alma Senior High School	1.1	558
Eugene M. Nikkari Elementary School	2.7	226
Donald L. Pavlik Middle School	0.7	449
Pine Avenue Elementary School	1	294
T. S. Nurnberger Middle School	1.3	225
St. Louis Correctional Facility	60	5
Carrie Knause Early Childhood Learning Center	1	202
South Elementary School	0.8	248
North Elementary School	0.7	305
Ithaca High School	0.2	467
Luce Road Elementary School	0.3	304
Breckenridge High School	0.3	318
Ashley Middle School	1.2	86
Hillcrest Elementary School	0.4	268
Fulton Middle School	0.7	144
Breckenridge Elementary School	0	299
Fulton Elementary School	0	262
Fulton High School	0	152
Ashley High School	0	73
Ashley Elementary School	0	79