Grand Rapids Reporter

There were 4,249 African American students enrolled in Grand Rapids Public Schools in the 2022-23 school year, a 4% decrease compared to the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Grand Rapids Public Schools welcomed 13,787 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, African American students made up 30.8% of the student body, making them the second most represented ethnicity in the district.

Grand Rapids Public Schools roughly covers 51 schools within Kent County and has its main office in Grand Rapids.

Among the 51 schools in Grand Rapids Public Schools, Union High School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 309 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 widening. Black and Hispanic students' average math proficiency dropped by 7% in 2022, to 13.5% and 28.2%, respectively.

Year	Total District Enrollment	Total African American Students	African American %
2022-23	13,787	4,249	30.8%
2021-22	13,900	4,425	31.8%
2020-21	14,034	4,469	31.8%
2019-20	14,557	4,746	32.6%
2018-19	16,006	4,936	30.8%
2017-18	16,374	5,259	32.1%
2016-17	16,604	5,371	32.3%
2015-16	16,453	5,301	32.2%