Dr. Michael F. Rice Michigan superintendent of public instruction | https://radio.wcmu.org/
Dr. Michael F. Rice Michigan superintendent of public instruction | https://radio.wcmu.org/
Data showed that Alpena County welcomed 3,605 students during the 2024-25 school year. Comprising only less than 0.1% of the student body, the Hawaiian community is one of the least represented ethnicities within Alpena County schools.
Besser Elementary School was the only school in Alpena County that enrolled Hawaiian students in the 2024-25 school year.
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 Hawaiian students enrolment | Total enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Besser Elementary School | 0.2% | 470 |
| Alpena High School | 0% | 1,091 |
| Thunder Bay Junior High School | 0% | 796 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | 0% | 146 |
| Wilson Elementary School | 0% | 220 |
| Ella M. White Elementary School | 0% | 440 |
| Sanborn Elementary School | 0% | 201 |
| Hinks Elementary School | 0% | 132 |
| Pied Piper School | 0% | 52 |
| ACES Academy | 0% | 57 |
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