SE Grand Rapids News

There were 80 African American students enrolled in Barry County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 17.6% more than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Barry County welcomed 8,181 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 1% of the student body to be the fourth highest represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 20 schools in Barry County, Thornapple Kellogg High School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 16 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
Thornapple Kellogg High School	1.6	982
Lee Elementary School	2.5	484
Thornapple Kellogg Middle School	1.5	745
Hastings High School	0.6	801
McFall Elementary School	1.1	471
Lakewood Middle School	1	487
Delton Kellogg Elementary School	1.3	390
Delton-Kellogg Middle School	1.4	291
Hastings Middle School	0.5	574
Page Elementary School	0.7	456
Delton-Kellogg High School	1	313
Fuller Street Elementary School	0.9	222
Southeastern Elementary School	0.4	284
Northeastern Elementary School	0.3	302
Lakewood High School	0.2	492
DK Academy	1.3	75
Lakewood Early Childhood Center	0.6	172
Barry ISD Special Education	2	51
Central Elementary School	0	284
Star Elementary School	0	305