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 - Page 23 -Enrollment data from two of the intermediate school districts within the region clearly indicates that some students and parents are exercising available options afforded by schools of choice. This dynamic is illustrated by examining migration patterns during the 1999-00 school year. For example, Big Rapids Public Schools gained 169 students and lost 29 for a net gain of 140. (These numbers are exclusive of the Crossroads Charter Academy numbers.) In Newaygo county, the net shifts were greatest in the Grant Public School District which gained 48, lost 16 resulting in a net change of 32 and White Cloud Public Schools experienced a gain of 8 and a loss of 25 accounting for a net loss of 17 students. Although it is difficult to determine the number of students being home schooled in our region, the potential for that alternative approach to K-12 education may grow as more families acquire personal computers and Internet schools become more popular. Presently there are more than 45 web-based K-12 high schools specifically targeting home school students. Florida launched a virtual high school this past fall and attracted 9,000 students and anticipates that number to grow to 50,000 in two years. Michigan has appropriated 10 million dollars to start a virtual high school. F. Socio-Cultural Conditions Based upon the 1990 census, 19% of the residents of the West Central region were living below the poverty level. The following summary of data demonstrates that persons in this region are experiencing a level of poverty considerably above the state average.
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