News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Bruce and Joe swing on the swingset at Ella White Elementary with their dad, Phil, on Thursday in Alpena.

ALPENA — The Michigan League for Public Policy released the 2025 Kids Count in Michigan data, revealing statewide and county trends in areas including health care and early childhood education.

This year’s findings include an analysis of trends from 2018 to the most recent year that data is available, typically 2023 or 2024, according to a Tuesday press release. The statewide data profile shows that Michigan saw improvement in 11 of 19 key areas, most notably in health, pointing to the importance of continuing to support families in the state.

The Data Book and Profiles also show areas where things have clearly worsened for Michigan kids and families. Public funding for education has not kept up with inflation, which is an area where some of the worst outcomes are seen. The share of students reading proficiently in third grade declined by 9.7% statewide, worsening in 62 counties and showing no improvement in 10 counties from 2018 to 2024. And the share of students proficient in eighth grade math declined by 18.6% statewide, worsening in 77 counties and showing no improvement in three counties from 2019 to 2024.

The average cost of monthly child care also saw one of the worst changes, with all counties in Michigan seeing child care costs either worsen or remain elevated, according to the press release. Costs increased in 77 of Michigan’s 83 counties. The statewide average cost of monthly child care increased by $261.

Alcona Community Schools Superintendent Dan O’Connor said one of the trends that stood out to him was the 8% uptick in the number of economically disadvantaged students in Alcona from 2018 to 2024. That increase is about the same as the decrease in the percentage of third graders proficient in reading.

When kids are economically disadvantaged, it can be more of a challenge to get those kids to proficiency, O’Connor said.

“We’re trying to support the educators we currently have,” he said. “We know their job is challenging. We’ve got a great hardworking staff right now.”

“A positive is that our district went from one preschool class to three,” O’Connor said.

The county has seen an increase of about 14% in the number of 3 to 4-year-olds enrolled in preschool since 2018.

The district is focused on continuing effort to see student growth, he said.

STATEWIDE DATA

The Kids Count report highlights data from The Michigan Department of Education (MDE), which reported in 2024 that 71.9% of 11th graders are not college ready, based on whether they failed to meet the benchmark standard in math, reading and writing, or both.

The MDE reported that 49.8% of K-12 students are economically disadvantaged, according to 2024 data, meaning that those students meet the standard for free or reduced-price meals.

MDE data from 2024 stated that 40.1% of third-graders were proficient in reading, based on Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) scores.

Additionally, 16.2% of kids ages 0 to 26 are in special education, according to the MDE.

Kids Count reported on data from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation finding that the average cost of monthly child care is $824 for families in Michigan.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported in 2023 that the five year average of the number of 3 to 4-year-olds in preschool is 44.2%.

The Census Bureau reported that 17.5% of 0 to 17-year-olds live below the poverty threshold in Michigan.

Statistics from Feeding America show that 17.9% of children (0-17) live with food insecurity.

The Census Bureau reported that 7% of 16 to 19-year-olds are not in school and are either unemployed or not in the labor force.

For Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency, and Presque Isle counties, data comes from the same sources.

ALPENA COUNTY

79.5% of 11th graders are not college ready.

61.6% of K-12 students are economically disadvantaged.

34.9% of third-graders are proficient in reading.

17.7% of kids ages 0 to 26 are in special education.

The average cost of monthly full-time child care is $670.

32.6% of 3 to 4-year-olds are enrolled in preschool.

19.6% of 0 to 17-year-olds live below the poverty threshold.

20.1% of 0 to 17-year-olds are food insecure

8.1% of 16 to 19-year-olds are not in school and are either unemployed or not in the labor force.

ALCONA COUNTY

85.2% of 11th graders are not college ready.

75.1% of K-12 students are economically disadvantaged.

22.9% of third-graders are proficient in reading.

18.3% of kids ages 0 to 26 are in special education.

The average cost of monthly full-time child care is $714.

53.1% of 3 to 4-year-olds are enrolled in preschool.

25.7% of 0 to 17-year-olds live below the poverty threshold.

22.5% of 0 to 17-year-olds are food insecure

5.8% of 16 to 19-year-olds are not in school and are either unemployed or not in the labor force.

MONTMORENCY COUNTY

The percentage of 11th graders that are not college ready is listed as N/A.

55.5% of K-12 students are economically disadvantaged.

25.5% of third-graders are proficient in reading.

19% of kids ages 0 to 26 are in special education.

The average cost of monthly full-time child care is listed as N/A.

12% of 3 to 4-year-olds are enrolled in preschool.

25.1% of 0 to 17-year-olds live below the poverty threshold.

26.6% of 0 to 17-year-olds are food insecure

13.4% of 16 to 19-year-olds are not in school and are either unemployed or not in the labor force.

PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY

83.9% of 11th graders are not college ready.

58.3% of K-12 students are economically disadvantaged.

39.3% of third-graders are proficient in reading.

10.4% of kids ages 0 to 26 are in special education.

The average cost of monthly full time child care is $641.

42.4% of 3 to 4-year-olds are enrolled in preschool.

18.8% of 0 to 17-year-olds live below the poverty threshold.

19.4% of 0 to 17-year-olds are food insecure

13.2% of 16 to 19-year-olds are not in school and are either unemployed or not in the labor force.

Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@TheAlpenaNews.com.