UP Gazette

There were 59 African American students enrolled in Marquette County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 6.3% less than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Marquette County welcomed 7,672 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 0.8% of the student body to be the third least represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 25 schools in Marquette County, Gwinn Middle-High School recorded the largest enrollment of African American students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of nine 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 African American students enrolment	Total enrollment
Ishpeming-Negaunee-NICE Community Education Division	4.5%	22
North Star Montessori Academy	2.1%	145
Gwinn Middle-High School	1.9%	477
Graveraet Elementary School	1.7%	289
Ishpeming High School	1.7%	172
Vandenboom Alternative High School	1.6%	127
George D. Gilbert Elementary School	1%	208
Sandy Knoll School	0.9%	322
Aspen Ridge Elementary School	0.8%	721
Westwood High School	0.8%	384
Marquette Senior High School	0.7%	942
Superior Hills Elementary School	0.7%	405
Bothwell Middle School	0.6%	696
Cherry Creek Elementary School	0.5%	430
Ishpeming Middle School	0.5%	185
Birchview School	0.4%	233
Negaunee High School	0.4%	474
Negaunee Middle School	0.2%	464
Lakeview School	0.2%	584
Marquette-Alger Administrative Unit	0%	50
K. I. Sawyer Elementary School	0%	207
Powell Township Elementary School	0%	46
Republic-Michigamme School	0%	80
Wells Township School	0%	8
Marquette Branch Prison	0%	1