UP Gazette

There were 1,738 American Indian students enrolled in Chippewa County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 1.5% less than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Chippewa County welcomed 4,455 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, American Indian students comprised 39% of the student body to be the second most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 18 schools in Chippewa County, Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy recorded the largest enrollment of American Indian students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 326 students.

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,427,386 students enrolled in Michigan schools, a figure 4.8% below the pre-pandemic total of 1,499,552 in 2019-20, with white students seeing the largest decline of approximately 3%.

Academic performance in Michigan remains below pre-pandemic levels. According to the 2024 NAEP results, the share of students reaching the basic benchmark in core subjects is about 10 percentage points lower than in 2019—except for fourth-grade math, which saw a decline of just 2 points.

Achievement gaps between ethnic groups also persist. On average, Hispanic students scored 15 points below white students. The gap was even wider for Black students, who scored about 30 points lower than their white peers.

The 2025 education budget, approved by Gov. Whitmer last July, totals $23.4 billion—$900 million less than the previous year’s budget. K-12 schools are working with $20.6 billion, a reduction from the $21.5 billion allocated in 2024.

However, some school superintendents and educators were concerned about the new budget. "Schools cannot function properly without adequate funding for safety and mental health," stated Rep. David Martin, R-Davison, referring to a significant cut of around $301 million from school safety and mental health programs. Based on the current bill, the program will receive just $26.5 million.

School name	% of American Indian students enrolment	Total enrollment
Ojibwe Charter School	83.2%	125
Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy	54.2%	601
Brimley Area School	54.2%	463
Malcolm High School	45.1%	71
Lincoln School	39.5%	342
Consolidated Community School Services	39%	59
EUPISD Learning Center	37.7%	61
Sault Area High School	36.8%	692
Rudyard Area Schools	34.7%	602
Sault Area Middle School	34.3%	498
Washington Elementary School	33.3%	195
DeTour Arts and Technology Academy	27.3%	77
Pickford Public Schools	22.3%	430
Lake Superior Academy	16.1%	93
DeTour High School	13.3%	45
Drummond Island Elementary School	9.4%	53
Whitefish Township School	2.4%	42
EUPISD Project Search	0%	6