North Michigan News

Elk Rapids High School had the largest enrollment among Antrim County schools, welcoming 359 students during the 2023-24 school year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Of all the students welcomed in the 2023-24 school year, 52.1% of them were boys, and 47.9% were girls.

Data also showed that most of the students were white, representing 92.5% of the Elk Rapids High School total enrollment.

Among the 13 schools in Antrim County, Lakeland Elementary School ranked second in enrollment numbers with 311 students, while Mancelona Elementary School welcomed 298 students and ranked third in the 2023-24 school year.

Elk Rapids High School is part of Elk Rapids Schools, which roughly covers schools within Antrim County, with its main office in Elk Rapids.

In the previous school year, Elk Rapids High School also had the largest number of students among Antrim County schools.

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	City	Total School Enrollment
Elk Rapids High School	Elk Rapids	359
Lakeland Elementary School	Elk Rapids	311
Mancelona Elementary School	Mancelona	298
Cherryland Middle School	Elk Rapids	285
Mancelona High School	Mancelona	252
Central Lake Public Schools	Central Lake	237
Mancelona Middle School	Mancelona	236
Ellsworth Community School	Ellsworth	230
North Central Academy Campus	Mancelona	176
Bellaire Middle-High School	Bellaire	144
John R. Rodger Elementary School	Bellaire	111
Alba School	Elmira	101
Sunrise Academy	Elk Rapids	27