Tri-City Sun

There were five Hawaiian students enrolled in Gratiot County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 16.7% less than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Gratiot County welcomed 5,031 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, Hawaiian students comprised 0.1% of the student body to be the least represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 22 schools in Gratiot County, Donald L. Pavlik Middle School recorded the largest enrollment of Hawaiian students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of two students.

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,427,386 students enrolled in Michigan schools, a figure 4.8% below the pre-pandemic total of 1,499,552 in 2019-20, with white students seeing the largest decline of approximately 3%.

Academic performance in Michigan remains below pre-pandemic levels. According to the 2024 NAEP results, the share of students reaching the basic benchmark in core subjects is about 10 percentage points lower than in 2019—except for fourth-grade math, which saw a decline of just 2 points.

Achievement gaps between ethnic groups also persist. On average, Hispanic students scored 15 points below white students. The gap was even wider for Black students, who scored about 30 points lower than their white peers.

The 2025 education budget, approved by Gov. Whitmer last July, totals $23.4 billion—$900 million less than the previous year’s budget. K-12 schools are working with $20.6 billion, a reduction from the $21.5 billion allocated in 2024.

However, some school superintendents and educators were concerned about the new budget. "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.

School name	% of Hawaiian students enrolment	Total enrollment
Eugene M. Nikkari Elementary School	0.5%	215
Donald L. Pavlik Middle School	0.4%	457
North Elementary School	0.3%	295
Alma Senior High School	0.2%	552
Pine Avenue Elementary School	0%	265
Fulton Middle School	0%	119
Hillcrest Elementary School	0%	400
Carrie Knause Early Childhood Learning Center	0%	206
Ithaca High School	0%	442
Breckenridge High School	0%	310
St. Louis Correctional Facility	0%	13
T. S. Nurnberger Middle School	0%	217
Ashley High School	0%	48
Breckenridge Elementary School	0%	324
Luce Road Elementary School	0%	141
Fulton High School	0%	173
Ashley Middle School	0%	54
South Elementary School	0%	234
St. Louis High School	0%	244
Ashley Elementary School	0%	60
Central Michigan Correctional Facility	0%	1
Fulton Elementary School	0%	261