North Michigan News

There were 24 African American students enrolled in Antrim County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 33.3% more than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Antrim County welcomed 2,840 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 0.8% of the student body to be the third lowest represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 13 schools in Antrim County, Ellsworth Community School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of eight 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
Ellsworth Community School	3.4	238
Elk Rapids High School	1.1	380
Lakeland Elementary School	0.6	313
North Central Academy Campus	1.2	165
Mancelona Elementary School	0.6	328
Mancelona Middle School	0.8	244
Cherryland Middle School	0.4	257
Central Lake Public Schools	0.4	247
Mancelona High School	0.3	286
Alba School	1	96
Bellaire Middle-High School	0	150
Sunrise Academy	0	23
John R. Rodger Elementary School	0	113