St. Joe-Benton Harbor News

There were 14 American Indian students enrolled in Hartford Public Schools in the 2022-23 school year, a 12.5% decrease compared to the previous year, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Data showed that Hartford Public Schools welcomed 1,364 students during the 2022-23 school year. Among them, American Indian students made up 1% of the student body, making them the third least represented ethnicity in the district.

Hartford Public Schools roughly covers four schools within Van Buren County and has its main office in Hartford.

Among the four schools in Hartford Public Schools, Redwood Elementary School recorded the highest enrollment of American Indian students in the 2022-23 school year, with a total of six 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 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 American Indian Students	American Indian %
2022-23	1,364	14	1%
2021-22	1,336	16	1.2%
2020-21	1,336	17	1.3%
2019-20	1,323	17	1.3%
2018-19	1,365	16	1.2%
2017-18	1,360	17	1.3%
2016-17	1,298	15	1.2%
2015-16	1,348	18	1.3%