Thumb Reporter

There were 9,523 white students enrolled in Lapeer County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 1.5% less than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Lapeer County welcomed 10,986 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, white students comprised 86.7% of the student body to be the most represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 27 schools in Lapeer County, Lapeer High School recorded the largest enrollment of white students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of 903 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
Lapeer County Education and Technology Center	94.6%	56
Chatfield School	92.5%	483
North Branch Elementary School	92.1%	964
North Branch High School	91.9%	695
Dryden High School	91.6%	214
Ruth Fox Middle School	91%	722
Lapeer High School	89.8%	1,006
Almont High School	89.8%	531
Center for Innovation	89.5%	210
Almont Middle School	89.5%	430
Zemmer Campus (8-9)	89.5%	628
Orchard Primary School	89.3%	428
Columbiaville Elementary School	89.3%	347
Dryden Elementary School	89.3%	224
STRIVE Transition Program	88.9%	18
Quest High School	88.1%	42
Emma Murphy Elementary School	88%	374
Elva Lynch Elementary School	86.9%	390
C. K. Schickler Elementary School	86.7%	457
Rolland Warner Campus 6-7	86.7%	610
Turrill Elementary School	85.9%	389
Venture High School	75%	24
Imlay City Middle School	73.4%	395
Imlay City High School	71.8%	554
Borland Elementary School	71.2%	396
Weston Elementary School	67.9%	389
Thumb Correctional Facility	40%	10