HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – The initial nose count of students in Lakeshore area public schools was somewhat promising to educators.
The annual first-Wednesday-in-October count of public school students across Michigan showed that West Ottawa remains the area’s largest district with 6,769 students in the classroom yesterday, down 47 from last year, but officials had estimated a drop of 154. Holland’s count was at 3,507, down 84 from last year, but officials had estimated a drop of 162.
Zeeland shot past the six thousand student plateau by 98, up 107 from last year; that district had anticipated a growth of 50. Fennville’s count was at 1,341, down five from last year, but officials had estimated a drop of 30, while Saugatuck stood at 857, down 18 from last year. No report was immediately available from Hamilton Community Schools.
The October student count accounts for 90 percent of the state’s per-pupil funding for public school districts; the remaining 10 percent comes from a similar count on February 14th. The count also helps determine class seeding for Michigan High School Athletic Association tournaments.
