South Michigan News

There were four African American students enrolled in Reading Community Schools in the 2022-23 school year, the same number as the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Reading Community Schools welcomed 696 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, African American students made up 0.6% of the student body, making them the second least represented ethnicity in the district.

Reading Community Schools roughly covers two schools within Hillsdale County and has its main office in Reading.

Reading High School was the only school in the district which enrolled African American students, welcoming four students in the 2022-23 school year.

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	696	4	0.6%
2021-22	678	4	0.6%
2020-21	689	6	0.9%
2019-20	706	8	1.1%
2018-19	733	10	1.4%
2017-18	759	11	1.4%
2016-17	787	12	1.5%
2015-16	791	10	1.3%