County Enrollment Decline Hits Grant the Hardest

Photo courtesy of Grant Public Schools

The Michigan Department of Education recently released statistics regarding enrollment in K-12 schools across the state. Statewide there was just a ½% decline in enrollment this past year. Over a 5 year period there has been a 5.4% decrease, a period that takes into account the Covid years that saw a significant contraction.
How did we fare locally?
Since 2019 Newaygo numbers have fallen by 1.8% accounting for 30 students, Fremont lost 3% (37 students), White Cloud 4.4% (42), and Hesperia 9.9% (88).
The outlier in these statistics is Grant. The district has experienced a 19.6% drop in enrollment representing a total of 350 less students than enrolled in 2019. In 2019 Grant had 1788 students compared to Newaygo’s 1597. The count from this past fall has Newaygo at 1567 and Grant with 1438.
Per student funding is $9,608 this year meaning a loss of 350 totals $3,362,800.
Why such a loss in Grant?
We contacted Grant Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Akin and posed the question
“It was no surprise,” he stated.”We knew it was coming.”
“15 years ago using census data this loss of students was projected and the figures we were given back then came within 1 of what we actually lost.”
The reason?
“Housing. There isn’t nearly enough housing in the district. You can’t grow as a district without it and with some of the zoning restrictions developers aren't willing to come in when they can find other areas more profitable and with less restrictions.”
Lack of facilities and resources have also contributed to the decline, he added.
”We don’t want to lose kids but with school of choice we lose them to Kent City or Tri County, schools that can provide more opportunities with updated  facilities."
Grant Public Schools has not passed a bond issue since 2002. 23 years ago.
In August there are plans for a sinking fund millage to be put forth to voters, but those initiatives go toward specific, need-to-be-done projects, not for improvements that might allow for growth.
(Note: Unlike some social media posts we’ve seen lately regarding sinking fund initiatives that mistakenly seem to  believe it's because schools seeking these  are physically sinking into the ground. Seriously.).
There are no current plans to try for another bond issue and Akin suggested any attempt would likely be a few years down the road.
“But unless we bring in more housing the numbers will likely continue to move downward until we have classes that number under 100.”

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