East Michigan News

There were 25 African American students enrolled in Clare County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 19% more than the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Clare County welcomed 3,894 students during the 2023-24 school year. Among them, African American students comprised 0.6% of the student body to be the fourth highest represented ethnicity in the county.

Among the 13 schools in Clare County, Farwell Middle School and Farwell High School recorded the highest enrollment of African American students in the 2023-24 school year, with a total of five 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 have widened. Black and Hispanic students' average math proficiency dropped by 7% in 2022, to 13.5% and 28.2%, respectively.

School name	% of African American students enrolment	Total enrollment
Farwell Middle School	1.6	306
Farwell High School	1.5	339
Harrison Community High School	1.2	334
Clare Middle School	0.6	482
Clare Primary School	0.5	579
Harrison Middle School	0.4	282
Clare High School	0.2	482
Farwell Elementary School	0.3	314
Clare Pioneer High School	3.1	32
Clare-Gladwin Area School	1.8	57
Robert M. Larson Elementary School	0	598
Harrison Alternative Education	0	37
Farwell Timberland Alternative High School	0	52