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Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Enrollment Analysis: African American students comprised 12.9% of Wexford County's student body in 2024-25 school year

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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/

There were 1,107 African American students enrolled in Wexford County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 32.4% more than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Wexford County welcomed 8,564 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 12.9% of the student body to be the second most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 14 schools in Wexford County, Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan recorded the largest enrollment of African American students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 1,060 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.

Ethnicities in Wexford County in 2024-25 School Year

White (73.5%)African American (12.9%)Hispanic (6.1%)Multiracial (5.9%)Ethnicities < 5% (1.6%)

Enrollment Demographics in Wexford County Schools During 2024-25 School Year

School name% of African American students enrolmentTotal enrollment
Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan30.7%3,455
Mesick Consolidated Junior/Senior High School2.9%276
Franklin Elementary School2%563
Floyd M. Jewett Elementary School1.2%256
Forest View Elementary School1.2%257
Cadillac Innovation High School1.2%164
Lincoln Elementary School1%480
Wexford-Missaukee ISD Special Education1%100
Mackinaw Trail Middle School0.9%683
Cadillac Senior High School0.6%903
Manton Consolidated Elementary School0.3%345
Manton Consolidated Middle School0.3%305
Buckley Community Schools0.2%488
Manton Consolidated High School0%289

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