The fall student count numbers are in: 2,010 students attend county schools K-12 and preschool. This represents a 165-student increase from 1,845 last year. In 2022, there were 1,700 students.
Glen Lake Community Schools, the largest county public school, reported a total of 782, including preschool.
The Lakers will be teaching 739 students compared to 716 last year.
“Glen Lake does not receive a per-pupil funding allotment as we are an out-of-formula district. However, we did move to a capped “lottery system” for school of choice applications last year to ensure that our staffing and operational costs would not increase due to enrollment,” Glen Lake Superintendent Jason Misner said. “We set the cap for class sizes based on our current staffing levels to ensure we do not exceed these thresholds.”
Glen Lake has 13 tuition and 30 Great Start Readiness Program students in preschool, and for youth-5 and kindergarten, Glen Lake has 67. Throughout the rest of the school, Glen Lake has 339 elementary school students, compared to 325 last year, and 189 middle school students, compared to 173 last year.
In high school, Glen Lake Class of 2027 is the most significant class by far, with 64 compared to 55 in 9th, 45 in 10th, and 47th in 12th.
Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy in Lake Leelanau counted 77 students in 2023, up from 75 in 2022.
Leelanau Montessori Head of School Arden Wilson reports that the charter school has 71 K-12 students, 55 preschool children, and 12 toddlers.
“Our space is maxed, we use all classroom space, and we are pretty steady because we base our count on square footage,” Wilson said.
For the first time since 2011, the State of Michigan Education Foundation grant, representing per-pupil funding, will remain the same instead of increasing.
Leelanau Montessori receives $9,608 per pupil.
Northport Public School, the smallest school in Leelanau County, reported 127 K-12 students this year. Over the past three years, the total has been 127 (2024), 126 (2023), and 129 (2022).
“We appear to be plus one from last year. That will mean a few hundred dollars more not thousands. It will not impact our operations,” Northport Superintendent Neil Wetherbee said.
Wetherbee said the count day data does not affect day-to-day operations. Northport has averaged 10 to 12 students per grade since 2006.
Lake Leelanau St. Mary Catholic School reports 158 students, the same amount as in 2023.
According to Suttons Bay Superintendent Casey Petz, the district has been tracking enrollment closely throughout the summer and fall, with positive trends.
In-seat enrollment hovers at 360, and virtual enrollment has 175 for a total of 551.
Suttons Bay remains stable despite having slightly fewer students compared to 576 in 2023.
Suttons Bay is considered the only “in-formula” school in the county and receives state funds on a per-pupil basis.
Leland Superintendent Stephanie Long reported that the school is serving 424 students. The elementary school holds the most with 183; 99 in middle school; and 142 in high school.
Leland reported 435 students last year and 459 in 2022.
Historically, Leland has fluctuated between the high 300s and the mid-400s for the past decade.
In fall 2023, Leland’s middle school enrollment was at 101, compared to 126 in fall 2022.
