South Kent News

There were 38 Hawaiian students enrolled in Kent County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 20.8% 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, Hawaiian students comprised less than 0.1% of the student body to be the least represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 222 schools in Kent County, Wellspring Preparatory High School, Caledonia High School, CA Frost Environmental Science Academy Middle High School, Vista Charter Academy, and Townline Elementary School recorded the largest enrollment of Hawaiian students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of two 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 Hawaiian students enrolment	Total enrollment
Wellspring Preparatory High School	0.7%	267
CA Frost Environmental Science Academy Middle High School	0.6%	309
Townline Elementary School	0.6%	320
Grand Rapids Montessori Middle-High School	0.5%	184
Lighthouse Academy - South Campus	0.5%	214
William C. Abney Academy Elementary	0.4%	273
Oriole Park Elementary School	0.4%	277
Meadow Ridge Elementary School	0.3%	397
Kent Hills Elementary School	0.3%	370
Vista Charter Academy	0.3%	641
Burton Elementary School	0.3%	365
Southeast Kelloggsville School	0.3%	287
Wyoming Junior High School	0.2%	584
Endeavor Elementary School	0.2%	553
Murray Lake Elementary School	0.2%	433
Central Kelloggsville Elementary School	0.2%	494
Grand River Preparatory High School	0.2%	635
Ridgeview Elementary School	0.2%	555
Rockford High School Freshman Center	0.2%	584
Cherry Creek Elementary School	0.2%	485
Sparta Middle School	0.2%	503
Orchard View Elementary School	0.2%	439
Central Woodlands 5-6 School	0.2%	462
Kenowa Hills High School	0.1%	876
PrepNet Virtual Academy	0.1%	1,080
Cedar Springs High School	0.1%	952
Lowell Middle School	0.1%	790
Central High School	0.1%	999
Pinewood Middle School	0.1%	842
Crestwood Middle School	0.1%	700
Rockford High School	0.1%	1,750
Duncan Lake Middle School	0.1%	696
Caledonia High School	0.1%	1,438
Coit Creative Arts Academy	0%	246
Pine Grove Learning Center	0%	103
Aberdeen Academy	0%	241
Dickinson Academy	0%	224
Crossroads Alternative High School	0%	224
East Grand Rapids High School	0%	908
Northview High School	0%	1,078
East Kentwood High School	0%	2,068
North Park Montessori Academy	0%	379
Byron Center High School	0%	1,387
Grandville High School	0%	1,719
Grandville Middle School	0%	850
West Godwin Elementary School	0%	393
Emmons Lake Elementary School	0%	377
West Elementary School	0%	468
Kenowa Hills Central Elementary School	0%	538
Wyoming Intermediate School	0%	579
River City Scholars Charter Academy	0%	286
Harrison Park Academy	0%	708
Grandville Grand View Elementary School	0%	406
Zinser Elementary School	0%	443
Kelloggsville High School	0%	595
Collins Elementary School	0%	356
Godwin Heights Middle School	0%	382
Grandville Education Center	0%	22
Lowell Senior High School	0%	1,058
Palmer School	0%	187
Goodwillie Environmental School	0%	103
Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center	0%	287
Sparta Senior High School	0%	778
Kettle Lake Elementary School	0%	349
Cedar Trails Elementary School	0%	431
East Kentwood Freshman Campus	0%	742
Parkview Elementary School	0%	296
Knapp Charter Academy	0%	398
Wyoming High School	0%	1,273
Brookwood Elementary School	0%	370
Grand Rapids Public Museum High School	0%	267
Grand Rapids Montessori Academy	0%	297
Innovation Central High School	0%	386
Robert L. Nickels Intermediate School	0%	705
East Oakview Elementary School	0%	371
Vanguard Charter Academy	0%	765
Caledonia Elementary School	0%	378
Walker Charter Academy	0%	711
City Middle-High School	0%	955
Meadowlawn Elementary School	0%	339
Appleview Elementary School	0%	517
Byron Center Charter School	0%	199
Lincoln School	0%	131
East Lee Campus	0%	88
West Kelloggsville School	0%	253
Kenowa Hills Middle School	0%	634
Red Hawk Elementary School	0%	657
Congress Elementary School	0%	237
Alger Middle School	0%	314
Grandville West Elementary School	0%	191
Crestwood Elementary School	0%	469
Covenant House Academy Grand Rapids	0%	226
Kent City Elementary School	0%	537
Sibley School	0%	308
Grand Rapids Learning Center	0%	39
Grand Rapids Public Museum Middle School	0%	175
Southwest Elementary Academia Bilingue	0%	661
Grandville Century Park Learning Center	0%	411
West Michigan Aviation Academy	0%	600
Ridgemoor Park Montessori	0%	131
Countryside Elementary School	0%	426
Rockford Spanish Immersion	0%	307
Central Middle School	0%	488
Mulick Park Elementary School	0%	264
Kenowa Hills Pathways High School	0%	99
Northern Trails 5-6 School	0%	520
Kent City Middle School	0%	290
Godwin Heights Learning Center	0%	97
Eastern High School	0%	768
Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School	0%	437
Northern High School	0%	1,088
Discovery Elementary School	0%	674
Godwin Heights Senior High School	0%	656
Brookside Elementary School	0%	254
Alto Elementary School	0%	417
CA Frost Environmental Science Academy Elementary	0%	476
Community Transition Campus	0%	346
Beach Elementary School	0%	445
Grandville Cummings Elementary School	0%	366
Lighthouse Academy - the Pier	0%	7
NexTech High School	0%	144
West Oakview Elementary School	0%	240
Bushnell Elementary School	0%	253
Crossroads Middle School	0%	472
Godfrey Elementary School	0%	325
Duncan Lake Transitions Program	0%	3
John Ball Park Zoo School	0%	58
Alpine Elementary School	0%	323
Riverside Middle School	0%	227
Ottawa High Transition	0%	14
Gerald R. Ford Academic Center	0%	213
Gerald Dawkins Academy	0%	152
Ottawa Hills High School	0%	385
Westwood Middle School	0%	176
Southeast Career Pathways	0%	106
Martin Luther King Leadership Academy	0%	299
Creative Technologies Academy	0%	302
Northview Next Learning Center	0%	136
Comstock Park Flex Academy	0%	33
Center for Economicology	0%	60
54th Street Academy	0%	94
Southwest Middle-High Academia Bilingue	0%	378
Lighthouse Academy - Waalkes	0%	73
Ken-O-Sha Park Elementary School	0%	118
Hope Academy of West Michigan	0%	284
Buchanan Elementary School	0%	379
Kent Education Center - Beltline	0%	49
Dutton Elementary School	0%	317
Byron Center West Middle School	0%	729
Sherwood Global Studies Academy	0%	121
Chandler Woods Charter Academy	0%	741
River Valley Academy	0%	37
Lee High School	0%	537
Kent Education Center - Oakleigh	0%	32
Godfrey-Lee Early Childhood Center	0%	355
Campus Elementary School	0%	210
Blandford School	0%	60
Kent City Alternative High School	0%	23
East Rockford Middle School	0%	788
Cannonsburg Elementary School	0%	262
Unity Alternative School	0%	19
Pine Island Elementary School	0%	379
Lincoln Heights Elementary School	0%	398
North Godwin Elementary School	0%	400
Newcomers Community School	0%	157
Union High Transition	0%	50
Roguewood Elementary School	0%	283
North Rockford Middle School	0%	908
Southwood Elementary School	0%	302
Lincoln Developmental Center	0%	94
New Branches Charter Academy	0%	345
West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science	0%	666
Grandville East Elementary School	0%	207
Northview Next Career Center	0%	32
Bethany Based School	0%	12
Ridge Park Charter Academy	0%	507
Valley View Elementary School	0%	336
Ada Vista Elementary School	0%	446
Comstock Park High School	0%	522
Grandville Central Elementary School	0%	201
Highlands School	0%	445
Lakes Elementary School	0%	409
Wealthy School	0%	462
Bowen Elementary School	0%	357
Cross Creek Charter Academy	0%	809
Meadow Brook Elementary School	0%	431
Challenger Elementary School	0%	413
Eastern Middle School	0%	528
Breton Downs School	0%	451
Excel Charter Academy	0%	791
Northern Hills Middle School	0%	515
Glenwood Elementary School	0%	543
Shawmut Hills School	0%	267
Sand Lake Elementary School	0%	780
Valleywood Middle School	0%	541
Explorer Elementary School	0%	556
Kelloggsville Middle School	0%	475
Kraft Meadows Intermediate School	0%	703
Brown Elementary School	0%	438
Knapp Forest Elementary School	0%	520
Thornapple Elementary School	0%	361
Gladiola Elementary School	0%	290
New Beginnings Alternative High School	0%	50
Ada Elementary School	0%	293
Marshall Elementary School	0%	463
Burton Middle School	0%	488
Cedar View Elementary School	0%	466
Kent City High School	0%	383
Belmont Elementary School	0%	277
North Oakview Elementary School	0%	346
Lakeside School	0%	453
Lee Middle School	0%	346
Mill Creek Middle School	0%	385
Forest Hills Transition Center	0%	22
Kent Intermediate School District Deaf and Hard of Hearing	0%	61
Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy	0%	494
Stoney Creek Elementary School	0%	432
Parkside Elementary School	0%	179
Pine Ridge Elementary School	0%	472
East Grand Rapids Middle School	0%	710
Grandville South Elementary School	0%	287
Union High School	0%	881