THE ENROLLMENT SHIFT (PART 1): Schools Face Future with Fewer Students

THE ENROLLMENT SHIFT (PART 1): Local school enrollment declining, but slower than statewide trend

Public school enrollment in Ionia and Montcalm counties is expected to continue declining through 2030, although at a slower pace than the rest of Michigan. Projections from Okemos-based StanFred Consultants estimate Montcalm County’s student population will drop about 3.3% by the 2029-2030 school year, roughly half the projected 6.2% statewide decline; meanwhile, Ionia County’s student population is anticipated to drop by 6.3%, closer to the st…