South Kent News

There were 3,489 Asian students enrolled in Kent County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 2.9% 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, Asian students comprised 3.7% of the student body to be the third least represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 222 schools in Kent County, East Kentwood High School recorded the largest enrollment of Asian students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 265 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 Asian students enrolment	Total enrollment
Bowen Elementary School	23.5%	357
Crestwood Middle School	20%	700
Endeavor Elementary School	19.7%	553
Meadowlawn Elementary School	19.2%	339
East Kentwood Freshman Campus	16.7%	742
Meadow Brook Elementary School	16.5%	431
Discovery Elementary School	15.9%	674
Challenger Elementary School	13.6%	413
Pinewood Middle School	13.1%	842
East Kentwood High School	12.8%	2,068
Explorer Elementary School	12.2%	556
Collins Elementary School	11.5%	356
Valleywood Middle School	11.5%	541
Brookwood Elementary School	11.1%	370
Eastern Middle School	10.4%	528
Orchard View Elementary School	10%	439
Northern Hills Middle School	9.9%	515
Glenwood Elementary School	9.4%	543
Ada Elementary School	9.2%	293
Forest Hills Transition Center	9.1%	22
Townline Elementary School	9.1%	320
Northern Trails 5-6 School	9%	520
Cross Creek Charter Academy	9%	809
Brown Elementary School	8.7%	438
Eastern High School	8.5%	768
Northern High School	8.3%	1,088
Thornapple Elementary School	8%	361
Walker Charter Academy	7.6%	711
Knapp Forest Elementary School	7.1%	520
Central High School	6.8%	999
Robert L. Nickels Intermediate School	6.7%	705
Excel Charter Academy	6.4%	791
Countryside Elementary School	6.3%	426
City Middle-High School	6.2%	955
Central Woodlands 5-6 School	6.1%	462
Kelloggsville High School	5.9%	595
Central Middle School	5.9%	488
Byron Center West Middle School	5.8%	729
Central Kelloggsville Elementary School	5.7%	494
Emmons Lake Elementary School	5.6%	377
Lincoln School	5.3%	131
Southeast Kelloggsville School	5.2%	287
Marshall Elementary School	5.2%	463
Grandville Century Park Learning Center	5.1%	411
Center for Economicology	5%	60
Southwood Elementary School	4.6%	302
Lincoln Developmental Center	4.3%	94
Grandville South Elementary School	4.2%	287
Sherwood Global Studies Academy	4.1%	121
Byron Center High School	4%	1,387
West Michigan Aviation Academy	4%	600
Grandville Grand View Elementary School	3.9%	406
Kelloggsville Middle School	3.8%	475
New Branches Charter Academy	3.8%	345
Dutton Elementary School	3.8%	317
Grandville Middle School	3.6%	850
Crossroads Alternative High School	3.6%	224
Caledonia High School	3.5%	1,438
Community Transition Campus	3.5%	346
Kent Intermediate School District Deaf and Hard of Hearing	3.3%	61
Kenowa Hills Central Elementary School	3%	538
Grandville High School	3%	1,719
Pine Grove Learning Center	2.9%	103
Lighthouse Academy - South Campus	2.8%	214
West Kelloggsville School	2.8%	253
Grand River Preparatory High School	2.8%	635
Valley View Elementary School	2.7%	336
Grand Rapids Learning Center	2.6%	39
Wyoming High School	2.6%	1,273
Oriole Park Elementary School	2.5%	277
Grandville Cummings Elementary School	2.5%	366
Newcomers Community School	2.5%	157
Ken-O-Sha Park Elementary School	2.5%	118
Pine Ridge Elementary School	2.5%	472
Kraft Meadows Intermediate School	2.4%	703
Gladiola Elementary School	2.4%	290
Palmer School	2.1%	187
Caledonia Elementary School	2.1%	378
Godwin Heights Middle School	2.1%	382
Grandville Central Elementary School	2%	201
Kent Education Center - Beltline	2%	49
New Beginnings Alternative High School	2%	50
Duncan Lake Middle School	2%	696
Union High Transition	2%	50
Goodwillie Environmental School	1.9%	103
Vanguard Charter Academy	1.8%	765
PrepNet Virtual Academy	1.8%	1,080
Ridge Park Charter Academy	1.8%	507
Ada Vista Elementary School	1.8%	446
East Grand Rapids Middle School	1.7%	710
North Rockford Middle School	1.7%	908
Kenowa Hills High School	1.6%	876
Wyoming Intermediate School	1.6%	579
CA Frost Environmental Science Academy Middle High School	1.6%	309
Rockford High School	1.6%	1,750
East Grand Rapids High School	1.5%	908
Rockford High School Freshman Center	1.5%	584
Shawmut Hills School	1.5%	267
Wyoming Junior High School	1.4%	584
Zinser Elementary School	1.4%	443
Kettle Lake Elementary School	1.4%	349
Cherry Creek Elementary School	1.4%	485
Lowell Middle School	1.4%	790
Harrison Park Academy	1.4%	708
Comstock Park High School	1.3%	522
Covenant House Academy Grand Rapids	1.3%	226
Meadow Ridge Elementary School	1.3%	397
Lowell Senior High School	1.3%	1,058
Chandler Woods Charter Academy	1.2%	741
Godwin Heights Senior High School	1.2%	656
Aberdeen Academy	1.2%	241
Union High School	1.2%	881
Grand Rapids Public Museum Middle School	1.1%	175
Parkside Elementary School	1.1%	179
Belmont Elementary School	1.1%	277
Grand Rapids Public Museum High School	1.1%	267
Kenowa Hills Middle School	1.1%	634
Breton Downs School	1.1%	451
Highlands School	1.1%	445
Wealthy School	1.1%	462
Pine Island Elementary School	1.1%	379
North Park Montessori Academy	1.1%	379
North Godwin Elementary School	1%	400
Grandville West Elementary School	1%	191
Creative Technologies Academy	1%	302
West Elementary School	0.9%	468
Alpine Elementary School	0.9%	323
Northview High School	0.8%	1,078
Kent City High School	0.8%	383
Cedar Springs High School	0.8%	952
West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science	0.8%	666
West Godwin Elementary School	0.8%	393
Wellspring Preparatory High School	0.7%	267
Lakes Elementary School	0.7%	409
Crestwood Elementary School	0.6%	469
Westwood Middle School	0.6%	176
Sparta Middle School	0.6%	503
Lee Middle School	0.6%	346
Sparta Senior High School	0.6%	778
Sibley School	0.6%	308
Burton Middle School	0.6%	488
Cedar View Elementary School	0.6%	466
Alger Middle School	0.6%	314
Appleview Elementary School	0.6%	517
North Oakview Elementary School	0.6%	346
Grand Rapids Montessori Middle-High School	0.5%	184
East Oakview Elementary School	0.5%	371
Byron Center Charter School	0.5%	199
Grandville East Elementary School	0.5%	207
Campus Elementary School	0.5%	210
Mill Creek Middle School	0.5%	385
Knapp Charter Academy	0.5%	398
Stoney Creek Elementary School	0.5%	432
Vista Charter Academy	0.5%	641
Bushnell Elementary School	0.4%	253
West Oakview Elementary School	0.4%	240
Riverside Middle School	0.4%	227
Cannonsburg Elementary School	0.4%	262
Lakeside School	0.4%	453
East Rockford Middle School	0.4%	788
Congress Elementary School	0.4%	237
Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy	0.4%	494
Ottawa Hills High School	0.3%	385
Burton Elementary School	0.3%	365
Innovation Central High School	0.3%	386
Kent Hills Elementary School	0.3%	370
Grand Rapids Montessori Academy	0.3%	297
Sand Lake Elementary School	0.3%	780
Parkview Elementary School	0.3%	296
Lee High School	0.2%	537
Kent City Elementary School	0.2%	537
Murray Lake Elementary School	0.2%	433
Crossroads Middle School	0.2%	472
Ridgeview Elementary School	0.2%	555
Red Hawk Elementary School	0.2%	657
Buchanan Elementary School	0%	379
Beach Elementary School	0%	445
Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center	0%	287
Alto Elementary School	0%	417
Martin Luther King Leadership Academy	0%	299
Northview Next Learning Center	0%	136
Southwest Elementary Academia Bilingue	0%	661
Coit Creative Arts Academy	0%	246
Ridgemoor Park Montessori	0%	131
Dickinson Academy	0%	224
Rockford Spanish Immersion	0%	307
Mulick Park Elementary School	0%	264
William C. Abney Academy Elementary	0%	273
Lincoln Heights Elementary School	0%	398
Kenowa Hills Pathways High School	0%	99
Godfrey Elementary School	0%	325
Kent City Middle School	0%	290
NexTech High School	0%	144
Godwin Heights Learning Center	0%	97
Northview Next Career Center	0%	32
Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School	0%	437
Gerald R. Ford Academic Center	0%	213
Gerald Dawkins Academy	0%	152
Southeast Career Pathways	0%	106
Lighthouse Academy - Waalkes	0%	73
Southwest Middle-High Academia Bilingue	0%	378
River City Scholars Charter Academy	0%	286
John Ball Park Zoo School	0%	58
Comstock Park Flex Academy	0%	33
54th Street Academy	0%	94
Hope Academy of West Michigan	0%	284
River Valley Academy	0%	37
Kent Education Center - Oakleigh	0%	32
Blandford School	0%	60
Kent City Alternative High School	0%	23
Unity Alternative School	0%	19
Duncan Lake Transitions Program	0%	3
East Lee Campus	0%	88
Lighthouse Academy - the Pier	0%	7
Bethany Based School	0%	12
CA Frost Environmental Science Academy Elementary	0%	476
Ottawa High Transition	0%	14
Grandville Education Center	0%	22
Roguewood Elementary School	0%	283
Brookside Elementary School	0%	254
Cedar Trails Elementary School	0%	431
Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center	0%	355