UP Gazette

There were 63 African American students enrolled in Marquette County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 1.6% less than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Marquette County welcomed 7,829 students during the 2023-24 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 0.8% of the student body to be the third lowest represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 24 schools in Marquette County, Gwinn Middle-High School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2023-24 school year, with a total of eight 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 have widened. Black and Hispanic students' average math proficiency dropped by 7% in 2022, to 13.5% and 28.2%, respectively.

School name	% of African American students enrolment	Total enrollment
Gwinn Middle-High School	1.6	505
North Star Montessori Academy	3.1	191
K. I. Sawyer Elementary School	2.5	244
Graveraet Elementary School	1.7	287
Marquette Senior High School	0.4	954
Sandy Knoll School	1.3	315
Aspen Ridge Elementary School	0.5	737
Ishpeming High School	1.9	211
Bothwell Middle School	0.4	699
Westwood High School	0.7	405
Superior Hills Elementary School	0.8	381
Vandenboom Alternative High School	2	151
Negaunee High School	0.4	450
Ishpeming Middle School	1.1	182
Marquette-Alger Administrative Unit	5.1	39
Republic-Michigamme School	2.4	83
Birchview School	0.4	245
Ishpeming-Negaunee-NICE Community Education Division	5.3	19
Cherry Creek Elementary School	0	410
Lakeview School	0	588
Negaunee Middle School	0	458
George D. Gilbert Elementary School	0	218
Powell Township Elementary School	0	51
Wells Township School	0	6