Tri-City Sun

There were 35 African American students enrolled in Gratiot County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 20.5% less than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Gratiot County welcomed 5,062 students during the 2023-24 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 0.7% 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 2023-24 school year, with a total of six 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	2.1	281
Alma Senior High School	0.9	549
Eugene M. Nikkari Elementary School	2.5	200
Hillcrest Elementary School	0.7	409
Donald L. Pavlik Middle School	0.4	473
Carrie Knause Early Childhood Learning Center	0.9	215
North Elementary School	0.7	307
St. Louis Correctional Facility	33.3	6
Ithaca High School	0.2	454
Pine Avenue Elementary School	0.4	265
Luce Road Elementary School	0.7	148
T. S. Nurnberger Middle School	0.5	201
Breckenridge High School	0.3	309
South Elementary School	0.4	232
Ashley Middle School	1.7	58
Fulton Middle School	0.8	132
Breckenridge Elementary School	0	283
Fulton High School	0	154
Fulton Elementary School	0	258
Ashley High School	0	55
Ashley Elementary School	0	73