UP Gazette

There were 4,577 students enrolled in Delta County school districts in the 2023-24 school year, 0.6% more than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

The county's data showed that kindergarten had the biggest classes with 427 students during the 2023-24 school year, while pre-kindergarten saw the smallest enrollment that year with just 203 students.

Countywide, Escanaba Area Public Schools welcomed the most students during the 2023-24 school year.

The main offices of all districts mentioned in the article are located in cities associated with Delta County.

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.

District	Total enrollment in 2022-23	Total enrollment in 2023-24	% Change from Previous Year
Escanaba Area Public Schools	2,129	2,132	0.1
Gladstone Area Schools	1,490	1,478	-0.8
Delta-Schoolcraft ISD	287	289	0.7
Rapid River Public Schools	278	253	-9
Mid Peninsula School District	191	217	13.6
Big Bay De Noc School District	176	208	18.2