Monroe Review

There were 51 American Indian students enrolled in Monroe County schools in the 2024-25 school year, 13.6% less than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Monroe County welcomed 20,297 students during the 2024-25 school year. Among them, American Indian students comprised 0.3% of the student body to be the second least represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 49 schools in Monroe County, Milan High School recorded the largest enrollment of American Indian students in the 2024-25 school year, with a total of six 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 American Indian students enrolment	Total enrollment
New Bedford Academy	1.6%	63
Monroe County Transition Center	1.5%	67
Orchard Center High School	1.2%	260
Milan High School	1.1%	526
Mason Senior High School	0.9%	316
Mason Middle School	0.9%	223
Monroe County Education Center	0.8%	129
Summerfield Junior-Senior High School	0.8%	251
Whiteford High School	0.8%	262
Loren Eyler Elementary School	0.7%	292
Clayton H. Symons Elementary School	0.6%	356
Ida Middle School	0.6%	467
North Elementary School	0.5%	366
Jefferson High School	0.5%	430
Ida Elementary School	0.4%	514
Dundee Elementary School	0.3%	685
Triumph Academy	0.3%	777
Joseph C. Sterling Elementary School	0.3%	370
Jefferson Middle School	0.3%	304
Monroe Road Elementary School	0.3%	595
Jackman Road Elementary School	0.2%	580
Dundee Middle School	0.2%	533
Dundee Community High School	0.2%	493
Douglas Road Elementary School	0.2%	553
Mason Central School	0.2%	421
Arborwood Elementary School	0.2%	462
Monroe High School	0.2%	1,332
Bedford Junior High School	0.1%	923
Bedford Senior High School	0%	1,260
Monroe County Middle College	0%	320
Monroe Middle School	0%	674
Airport Senior High School	0%	760
Summerfield Elementary School	0%	312
Airport Center for Education	0%	49
Riverside Academy	0%	46
Monroe County Youth Center	0%	16
Ida High School	0%	451
Whiteford Middle School	0%	188
Whiteford Elementary School	0%	380
Mason Virtual Academy	0%	20
Young Adult Program	0%	10
Wagar 5-6 Middle School	0%	221
Fred W. Ritter Elementary School	0%	265
Raisinville School	0%	443
Custer Elementary School	0%	769
Wagar 7-8 Middle School	0%	641
Sodt Elementary School	0%	236
Henry Niedermeier Elementary School	0%	242
Manor Elementary School	0%	444