UP Gazette

There were nine African American students enrolled in St. Ignace Area Schools in the 2022-23 school year, a 18.2% decrease compared to the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that St. Ignace Area Schools welcomed 420 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, African American students made up 2.1% of the student body, making them the second least represented ethnicity in the district.

St. Ignace Area Schools roughly covers three schools within Mackinac County and has its main office in St. Ignace.

Among the three schools in St. Ignace Area Schools, LaSalle High School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of seven students.

Overall student enrollment in Michigan remains below pre-pandemic levels, with white students experiencing the largest decline at 6.5%.

Academic performance has also suffered, with the state's average NAEP score dropping by 6.5 points and ethnic achievement gaps widening. Black and Hispanic students' average math proficiency dropped by 7% in 2022, to 13.5% and 28.2%, respectively.

Year	Total District Enrollment	Total African American Students	African American %
2022-23	420	9	2.1%
2021-22	444	11	2.5%
2020-21	481	13	2.7%
2019-20	508	15	3%
2018-19	511	13	2.5%
2017-18	502	14	2.8%
2016-17	522	12	2.3%
2015-16	553	20	3.6%