Kids Count data shows which Northern Michigan counties are seeing educational impact

A new state project report highlights what counties in Northern Michigan and beyond face education challenges.

The 2024 Kids Count report is part of a nationwide network of state projects supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation of Baltimore. Kids Count in Michigan and the Michigan League for Public Policy have produced the annual Kids Count in Michigan Data Book since 1992.

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9&10 News evaluated educational data points from the report for 15 counties, including the percentage of third-graders proficient in reading and on-time graduation rates.

Also included in the evaluation for each county was the percentage of families with a high housing cost burden, the percentage of students K-12 who are economically disadvantaged and the percentage of zero to 17-year-olds in poverty.

EDUCATION

Emmet County saw the highest rate of third-graders proficient in reading at 54.9%, and Manistee County saw the lowest rate at 29.3%.

Antrim County saw the highest on-time graduation rate of 90.3%, and Manistee County saw the lowest with 65%.

The statewide rate for the percentage of third-graders proficient in reading was 42.1%.

The statewide on-time graduation rate was 81.6%.

HOUSING & POVERTY

When evaluating the percentage of students K-12 who are economically disadvantaged, Wexford County saw the highest rate of students at 70.5%, and Grand Traverse County saw the lowest rate at 38.2%.

The statewide rate for students K-12 who are economically disadvantaged was 53.7%.

Evaluating for the percentage of families with a high housing cost burden per county, Grand Traverse County saw the highest cost burden percentage at 26.4%, and Mackinac County saw the lowest percentage cost burden at 20%.

The statewide percentage for housing cost burden was 26.1%.

In evaluating the percentage of zero to 17-year-olds in poverty per county, Crawford County saw the highest rate of students at 21.2%, and Leelanau County saw the lowest rate at 10.1%.

The statewide rate for the percentage of zero to 17-year-olds in poverty was 53.7%.

According to statewide data, while the percentage of Michigan students graduating on time dropped during the pandemic after several years of steady increases, the latest data shows that this indicator is moving back in the right direction, with 81.8% of Michigan students completing high school on time in 2023.

Worsening statewide trends include a decline in children receiving cash assistance, a decline in 3- to 4-year-olds in preschool, a decrease in children ages 1-2 being tested for lead and a decline in third-graders proficient in reading.

Over half of Michigan’s counties saw declines in third-grade reading proficiency and preschool enrollment.

Enrollment in the state’s basic cash assistance program, known as the Family Independence Program, decreased in 75 of Michigan’s 83 counties.

For additional information and specifics on the Kids Count data findings, click here .