Sturgis-Coldwater News

There were 5,425 white students enrolled in Branch County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 1.3% less than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Branch County welcomed 6,554 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, white students comprised 82.8% of the student body to be the most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 16 schools in Branch County, Coldwater High School recorded the largest enrollment of white students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 783 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 white students enrolment	Total enrollment
Union City High School	93.8%	305
Quincy Middle School	92.8%	345
Quincy High School	92.2%	346
Jennings Elementary School	90.4%	408
Union City Middle School	89.4%	245
Waldron Learning Center	85.9%	256
Union City Elementary School	85.2%	359
Ryan Elementary School	83.9%	217
Jefferson Elementary School	80.4%	378
Coldwater High School	79.8%	981
Anderson Elementary School	79.6%	216
Lakeland Elementary School	79.5%	375
Bronson Junior-Senior High School	79.4%	530
Legg Middle School	79.1%	616
Larsen Elementary School	78.2%	463
Pansophia Academy	73.3%	514