Sturgis-Coldwater News

There were 6,505 students enrolled in Branch County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 0.2% less than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Boys made up 51.9% of the county student body, while the other 48.1% were girls.

Data also showed that white students made up 84.5% of the student body, the biggest percentage in Branch County schools, followed by 10.9% of Hispanic students, 3.1% of multiracial students, 1% of African American students, 0.5% of Asian students, 0.1% of American Indian students and less than 0.1% of Hawaiian students.

Coldwater High School had the highest enrollment among Branch County's 19 schools in the 2023-24 school year, welcoming 913 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	Total enrollment in 2022-23	Total enrollment in 2023-24	% change
Coldwater High School	944	913	-3.3
Legg Middle School	653	626	-4.1
Bronson Junior-Senior High School	544	523	-3.9
Pansophia Academy	433	472	9
Larsen Elementary School	416	446	7.2
Jennings Elementary School	435	427	-1.8
Lakeland Elementary School	373	393	5.4
Quincy High School	391	367	-6.1
Jefferson Elementary School	370	366	-1.1
Union City Elementary School	353	349	-1.1
Quincy Middle School	323	331	2.5
Union City High School	293	320	9.2
Waldron Learning Center	264	294	11.4
Union City Middle School	276	255	-7.6
Ryan Elementary School	229	213	-7
Anderson Elementary School	220	210	-4.5