UP Gazette

There were two African American students enrolled in North Central Area Schools in the 2022-23 school year, the same number as the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that North Central Area Schools welcomed 326 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, African American students made up 0.6% of the student body, making them the second least represented ethnicity in the district.

North Central Area Schools roughly covers three schools within Menominee County and has its main office in Hermansville.

North Central Elementary School was the only school in the district which enrolled African American students, welcoming two students in the 2022-23 school year.

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	326	2	0.6%
2021-22	329	2	0.6%
2020-21	338	3	0.9%
2019-20	350	1	0.3%
2018-19	336	1	0.3%
2017-18	365	1	0.3%
2016-17	361	2	0.6%
2015-16	366	3	0.8%