South Kent News

There were 14,217 African American students enrolled in Kent County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 0.2% less than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Kent County welcomed 95,576 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 14.9% of the student body to be the third most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 222 schools in Kent County, East Kentwood High School recorded the largest enrollment of African American students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 761 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.

School name	% of African American students enrolment	Total enrollment
William C. Abney Academy Elementary	89.4%	273
Gerald Dawkins Academy	88.8%	152
River City Scholars Charter Academy	73.1%	286
Martin Luther King Leadership Academy	72.2%	299
Lighthouse Academy - the Pier	71.4%	7
Ottawa Hills High School	68.1%	385
Mulick Park Elementary School	67.4%	264
Ridge Park Charter Academy	65.9%	507
Campus Elementary School	63.3%	210
Alger Middle School	63.1%	314
Riverside Middle School	61.2%	227
Kent Hills Elementary School	58.9%	370
Sherwood Global Studies Academy	57.9%	121
Ottawa High Transition	57.1%	14
Ken-O-Sha Park Elementary School	56.8%	118
Lighthouse Academy - Waalkes	56.2%	73
PrepNet Virtual Academy	54.5%	1,080
Covenant House Academy Grand Rapids	51.3%	226
Gerald R. Ford Academic Center	51.2%	213
New Branches Charter Academy	51%	345
Lighthouse Academy - South Campus	49.5%	214
Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy	46.6%	494
Brookwood Elementary School	45.1%	370
Challenger Elementary School	45%	413
Wellspring Preparatory High School	43.4%	267
Crossroads Alternative High School	42.4%	224
Southeast Kelloggsville School	42.2%	287
54th Street Academy	40.4%	94
Union High Transition	40%	50
Brookside Elementary School	39.8%	254
Dickinson Academy	38.8%	224
Southeast Career Pathways	38.7%	106
Glenwood Elementary School	38.5%	543
Westwood Middle School	36.9%	176
East Kentwood High School	36.8%	2,068
Endeavor Elementary School	35.8%	553
Union High School	35.8%	881
Valleywood Middle School	35.7%	541
Innovation Central High School	35.5%	386
Bowen Elementary School	35.3%	357
Crestwood Middle School	34.6%	700
Pinewood Middle School	34.6%	842
Sibley School	34.4%	308
Knapp Charter Academy	34.4%	398
Discovery Elementary School	34.3%	674
Central Kelloggsville Elementary School	33.4%	494
East Kentwood Freshman Campus	33.2%	742
Kelloggsville Middle School	32.2%	475
Excel Charter Academy	32.2%	791
Meadowlawn Elementary School	32.2%	339
Palmer School	31.6%	187
Aberdeen Academy	31.5%	241
Vista Charter Academy	30.9%	641
Grand Rapids Learning Center	30.8%	39
Kelloggsville High School	30.8%	595
Harrison Park Academy	29.9%	708
Coit Creative Arts Academy	29.7%	246
Grand River Preparatory High School	28.5%	635
Congress Elementary School	28.3%	237
Explorer Elementary School	27.2%	556
West Elementary School	25.9%	468
Godwin Heights Learning Center	25.8%	97
Shawmut Hills School	25.1%	267
Kent Education Center - Oakleigh	25%	32
Townline Elementary School	24.4%	320
NexTech High School	24.3%	144
Newcomers Community School	24.2%	157
CA Frost Environmental Science Academy Middle High School	23.6%	309
Godwin Heights Senior High School	23.6%	656
Grand Rapids Public Museum Middle School	23.4%	175
Southwood Elementary School	22.5%	302
Kent Education Center - Beltline	22.4%	49
Grand Rapids Montessori Middle-High School	22.3%	184
North Godwin Elementary School	22.3%	400
Burton Middle School	21.9%	488
Pine Grove Learning Center	20.4%	103
West Godwin Elementary School	19.8%	393
Lincoln School	19.8%	131
Wyoming Intermediate School	19.3%	579
Parkview Elementary School	19.3%	296
Ridgemoor Park Montessori	19.1%	131
Godwin Heights Middle School	19.1%	382
Grand Rapids Public Museum High School	18.7%	267
West Kelloggsville School	18.2%	253
Grandville Education Center	18.2%	22
Wyoming Junior High School	17.8%	584
Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School	17.8%	437
Community Transition Campus	17.6%	346
Wyoming High School	16.6%	1,273
Comstock Park Flex Academy	15.2%	33
Hope Academy of West Michigan	14.4%	284
Grand Rapids Montessori Academy	14.1%	297
Lincoln Developmental Center	13.8%	94
Oriole Park Elementary School	13.7%	277
Gladiola Elementary School	13.4%	290
Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center	13%	355
Buchanan Elementary School	12.9%	379
Northview Next Career Center	12.5%	32
Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center	12.2%	287
Alpine Elementary School	12.1%	323
Kenowa Hills Pathways High School	12.1%	99
Center for Economicology	11.7%	60
CA Frost Environmental Science Academy Elementary	11.6%	476
Burton Elementary School	11.2%	365
Grandville West Elementary School	11%	191
Northview Next Learning Center	11%	136
Vanguard Charter Academy	10.6%	765
Stoney Creek Elementary School	10.6%	432
Northview High School	10.4%	1,078
West Michigan Aviation Academy	9.8%	600
West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science	9.5%	666
Lee Middle School	9.5%	346
Cross Creek Charter Academy	9.4%	809
Kenowa Hills Central Elementary School	8.6%	538
Lee High School	8.4%	537
Godfrey Elementary School	8.3%	325
Bethany Based School	8.3%	12
Crossroads Middle School	8.3%	472
North Oakview Elementary School	8.1%	346
Highlands School	8.1%	445
Walker Charter Academy	8%	711
City Middle-High School	8%	955
Grandville South Elementary School	7.7%	287
Pine Island Elementary School	7.7%	379
Mill Creek Middle School	7.5%	385
North Park Montessori Academy	6.9%	379
Comstock Park High School	6.9%	522
West Oakview Elementary School	6.7%	240
Kent Intermediate School District Deaf and Hard of Hearing	6.6%	61
Meadow Brook Elementary School	6.5%	431
Northern High School	6.5%	1,088
East Oakview Elementary School	6.5%	371
Northern Hills Middle School	6.4%	515
Grandville Grand View Elementary School	6.2%	406
Grandville Middle School	6.1%	850
Southwest Elementary Academia Bilingue	5.9%	661
East Lee Campus	5.7%	88
Northern Trails 5-6 School	5.4%	520
Southwest Middle-High Academia Bilingue	5%	378
Kenowa Hills Middle School	4.9%	634
Grandville High School	4.7%	1,719
Forest Hills Transition Center	4.5%	22
Grandville East Elementary School	4.3%	207
Kenowa Hills High School	4.2%	876
Dutton Elementary School	4.1%	317
Collins Elementary School	3.9%	356
Grandville Century Park Learning Center	3.9%	411
Wealthy School	3.7%	462
Orchard View Elementary School	3.6%	439
Zinser Elementary School	3.4%	443
John Ball Park Zoo School	3.4%	58
Grandville Cummings Elementary School	3.3%	366
Grandville Central Elementary School	3%	201
East Grand Rapids High School	2.8%	908
River Valley Academy	2.7%	37
Central High School	2.7%	999
Kraft Meadows Intermediate School	2.6%	703
Duncan Lake Middle School	2.4%	696
Appleview Elementary School	2.3%	517
Countryside Elementary School	2.3%	426
Pine Ridge Elementary School	2.3%	472
Cherry Creek Elementary School	2.3%	485
Byron Center West Middle School	2.2%	729
Caledonia High School	2.2%	1,438
Eastern High School	2.1%	768
Caledonia Elementary School	2.1%	378
Emmons Lake Elementary School	2.1%	377
Byron Center Charter School	2%	199
Central Middle School	1.8%	488
Sparta Senior High School	1.7%	778
Blandford School	1.7%	60
Central Woodlands 5-6 School	1.7%	462
Ada Vista Elementary School	1.6%	446
Marshall Elementary School	1.5%	463
Ada Elementary School	1.4%	293
Thornapple Elementary School	1.4%	361
Sparta Middle School	1.4%	503
East Grand Rapids Middle School	1.4%	710
Robert L. Nickels Intermediate School	1.3%	705
Lincoln Heights Elementary School	1.3%	398
Lakeside School	1.3%	453
Cedar Trails Elementary School	1.2%	431
Byron Center High School	1.2%	1,387
Rockford High School Freshman Center	1.2%	584
Roguewood Elementary School	1.1%	283
Belmont Elementary School	1.1%	277
Eastern Middle School	1.1%	528
Parkside Elementary School	1.1%	179
Lakes Elementary School	1%	409
Goodwillie Environmental School	1%	103
Creative Technologies Academy	1%	302
Lowell Senior High School	1%	1,058
Crestwood Elementary School	0.9%	469
Rockford High School	0.9%	1,750
East Rockford Middle School	0.9%	788
Breton Downs School	0.9%	451
Murray Lake Elementary School	0.9%	433
Ridgeview Elementary School	0.9%	555
Lowell Middle School	0.9%	790
Bushnell Elementary School	0.8%	253
Meadow Ridge Elementary School	0.8%	397
Brown Elementary School	0.7%	438
Rockford Spanish Immersion	0.7%	307
Cedar View Elementary School	0.6%	466
Valley View Elementary School	0.6%	336
Cedar Springs High School	0.6%	952
Sand Lake Elementary School	0.6%	780
North Rockford Middle School	0.6%	908
Kent City High School	0.5%	383
Red Hawk Elementary School	0.5%	657
Chandler Woods Charter Academy	0.5%	741
Beach Elementary School	0.4%	445
Kettle Lake Elementary School	0.3%	349
Kent City Elementary School	0.2%	537
Knapp Forest Elementary School	0.2%	520
Cannonsburg Elementary School	0%	262
New Beginnings Alternative High School	0%	50
Kent City Alternative High School	0%	23
Alto Elementary School	0%	417
Unity Alternative School	0%	19
Kent City Middle School	0%	290
Duncan Lake Transitions Program	0%	3