UP Gazette

There were two American Indian students enrolled in Iron County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 50% less than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Iron County welcomed 1,325 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, American Indian students comprised 0.2% of the student body to be the second lowest represented ethnicity in the county.

Forest Park School and West Iron County High School were the only schools in Iron County that enrolled American Indian 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 have widened. Black and Hispanic students' average math proficiency dropped by 7% in 2022, to 13.5% and 28.2%, respectively.

School name	% of American Indian students enrolment	Total enrollment
Forest Park School	0.2	479
West Iron County High School	0.2	469
Stambaugh Elementary School	0	377