SE Grand Rapids News

There were 80 African American students enrolled in Ionia County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 10.1% less than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Ionia County welcomed 7,996 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 1% of the student body to be the fourth most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 27 schools in Ionia County, Oakwood Elementary School recorded the largest enrollment of African American students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 12 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 African American students enrolment	Total enrollment
Ionia Maximum Correctional Facility	100%	3
Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility	66.7%	9
Douglas R. Welch High School	4.1%	73
Freedom Acres School	3.3%	122
Oakwood Elementary School	2.5%	473
Portland Middle School	1.7%	418
Twin Rivers Elementary School	1.6%	183
Saranac Junior-Senior High School	1.5%	406
Westwood Elementary School	1.4%	423
Saranac Elementary School	1.2%	433
Belding High School	1%	511
Emerson School	0.6%	166
Belding Middle School	0.6%	363
A. A. Rather School	0.6%	308
Ionia High School	0.6%	775
Ionia Middle School	0.5%	629
Lakewood Elementary School	0.4%	461
Jefferson School	0.4%	272
R. B. Boyce Elementary School	0.4%	254
Ellis Elementary School	0.3%	391
Woodview Elementary School	0.3%	372
Portland High School	0.2%	665
Pewamo-Westphalia Elementary School	0%	249
Coon School	0%	15
Haynor School	0%	10
North LeValley Elementary School	0%	10
Handlon Correctional Facility	0%	2