North Michigan News

There were 12 African American students enrolled in Oscoda Area Schools in the 2022-23 school year, a 29.4% decrease compared to the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Oscoda Area Schools welcomed 1,149 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, African American students made up 1% of the student body, making them the fourth most represented ethnicity in the district.

Oscoda Area Schools roughly covers two schools within Iosco County and has its main office in Oscoda.

Among the two schools in Oscoda Area Schools, Richardson Elementary School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of seven 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 widening. Black and Hispanic students' average math proficiency dropped by 7% in 2022, to 13.5% and 28.2%, respectively.

Year	Total District Enrollment	Total African American Students	African American %
2022-23	1,149	12	1%
2021-22	1,159	17	1.5%
2020-21	1,149	13	1.1%
2019-20	1,162	14	1.2%
2018-19	1,146	13	1.1%
2017-18	1,158	13	1.1%
2016-17	1,151	10	0.9%
2015-16	1,176	12	1%