Sturgis-Coldwater News

There were 423 multiracial students enrolled in St. Joseph County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 4.9% less than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that St. Joseph County welcomed 9,499 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, multiracial students comprised 4.5% of the student body to be the third most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 31 schools in St. Joseph County, Three Rivers High School recorded the largest enrollment of multiracial students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 57 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
Three Rivers Partnership	66.7%	3
Park Elementary School	11.1%	262
Three Rivers Middle School	10.5%	476
Andrews Elementary School	9.5%	296
Three Rivers High School	9%	632
Norton Elementary School	8.1%	186
Wenzel School	7.4%	148
Burr Oak Elementary School	7.2%	138
Ruth Hoppin School	6.8%	293
White Pigeon Junior-Senior High School	6.6%	363
Pathfinder Educational Center	6.3%	79
Centreville Elementary School	5.2%	482
Centreville Junior Senior High School	3.9%	407
Eastwood School	3.6%	642
Burr Oak High School	3.5%	85
Burr Oak Virtual Academy	3.2%	280
Constantine Alternative Education	2.9%	104
Central Elementary School	2.7%	366
Riverside Elementary School	2.7%	256
Nottawa Community School	2.6%	189
Constantine High School	2.6%	348
Congress School	2.5%	162
Sturgis Middle School	2.2%	634
Wall School	2.1%	292
Mendon Middle/High School	2%	254
Constantine Middle School	1.9%	309
Sturgis High School	1.8%	882
Eastside Elementary School	1.7%	230
Colon High School	1.5%	271
Mendon Elementary School	1.4%	210
Colon Elementary School	0.9%	223