UP Gazette

There were 158 multiracial students enrolled in Chippewa County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 6.8% more 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, multiracial students comprised 3.5% of the student body to be the third most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 18 schools in Chippewa County, Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy recorded the largest enrollment of multiracial students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 27 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 multiracial students enrolment	Total enrollment
Whitefish Township School	21.4%	42
Washington Elementary School	12.3%	195
Consolidated Community School Services	11.9%	59
Lake Superior Academy	11.8%	93
Lincoln School	4.7%	342
Joseph K. Lumsden Bahweting Anishnabe Academy	4.5%	601
DeTour High School	4.4%	45
Pickford Public Schools	4.2%	430
DeTour Arts and Technology Academy	3.9%	77
Ojibwe Charter School	3.2%	125
Sault Area High School	1.9%	692
Brimley Area School	1.7%	463
Rudyard Area Schools	1.5%	602
Malcolm High School	1.4%	71
Sault Area Middle School	1.2%	498
EUPISD Learning Center	0%	61
Drummond Island Elementary School	0%	53
EUPISD Project Search	0%	6