Muskegon Sun

There were 42 African American students enrolled in Whitehall District Schools in the 2022-23 school year, a 19.2% decrease compared to the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Whitehall District Schools welcomed 1,957 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, African American students made up 2.1% of the student body, making them the fourth most represented ethnicity in the district.

Whitehall District Schools roughly covers five schools within Muskegon County and has its main office in Whitehall.

Among the five schools in Whitehall District Schools, Whitehall Senior High School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of 23 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	1,957	42	2.1%
2021-22	1,998	52	2.6%
2020-21	2,029	72	3.5%
2019-20	2,043	80	3.9%
2018-19	2,078	87	4.2%
2017-18	2,138	99	4.6%
2016-17	2,167	88	4.1%
2015-16	2,218	91	4.1%