Lansing Sun

There were nine Hawaiian students enrolled in Clinton County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 28.6% more than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Clinton County welcomed 11,320 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, Hawaiian students comprised 0.1% of the student body to be the least represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 27 schools in Clinton County, Michigan International Prep School recorded the largest enrollment of Hawaiian students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of four 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
Bath Middle School	0.4%	241
Oakview Elementary School	0.3%	313
Bath High School	0.3%	307
Michigan International Prep School	0.2%	1,657
DeWitt High School	0.2%	944
Sheridan Road	0%	356
St. Johns High School	0%	790
Cole Academy East	0%	148
Waldron Elementary and Middle School	0%	262
Clinton County Education Center	0%	65
Ovid-Elsie High School	0%	372
Pewamo-Westphalia Middle/High School	0%	504
Riley Elementary School	0%	299
David Scott Elementary School	0%	473
Blended Learning Academies Credit Recovery High School	0%	159
Herbison Woods Elementary School	0%	469
Gateway Elementary School	0%	320
Bath Elementary School	0%	473
Wacousta Elementary School	0%	457
St. Johns Middle School	0%	584
E. E. Knight Elementary School	0%	296
Ovid-Elsie Middle School	0%	293
Eureka School	0%	114
Schavey Road Elementary School	0%	469
STRIVE Academy	0%	38
Fowler High School	0%	163
DeWitt Middle School	0%	754