A Plymouth-Canton family with a high school athlete will save $210 per student on sports fees starting this fall after the Board of Education approved a $500,000 boost to the district's athletics and activities budget.
The pay-to-participate fee at Canton, Plymouth, and Salem high schools drops from $385 to $175 per student for the 2026-2027 school year, according to a district announcement published Friday, July 31.
That's a 55% cut.
Middle schoolers benefit too. Fees at the district's five middle schools, Discovery, East, Liberty, Pioneer, and West, fall from $200 to $125 for one sport, with each additional sport costing $50.
Four sports gain district funding
Four MHSAA programs that families previously funded out of pocket will now be covered by the district:
- Freshman Baseball
- Competitive Cheer
- Boys and Girls Bowling
- Boys and Girls Lacrosse
Players in those sports had to cover full program costs themselves. Under the new budget, the district picks up the tab.
P-CEP programs get a boost
Beyond fee cuts, the investment funnels money into specialized programs at Plymouth-Canton Educational Park. Science Olympiad teams will receive increased funding, the high school band program gains Presto Assistant software, and the Gourmet Club gets additional support. The budget also covers athletic supplies, uniforms, equipment, transportation, competitions, and teacher-leader training at the high school level.
The district said the investment is aimed at reducing financial barriers and expanding student access to athletics, clubs, and activities across Plymouth-Canton Community Schools.
$500K investment amid $10 million in cuts
The spending comes as the district, led by Superintendent Dr. Monica Merritt, navigates a tight fiscal year. Minutes from the board's June 9 meeting projected approximately $10 million in reductions for FY27 to maintain a 15% fund balance, alongside a projected enrollment decline of about 75 students across the roughly 16,000-student system.
The district framed the athletics investment as the first step in a three-year plan to steadily grow funding for sports and activities. State aid is projected to rise to $10,300 per pupil, a $250 increase that partially offsets the enrollment dip.
What's next
The board's next regular meeting is Tuesday, August 11, at the E.J. McClendon Educational Center, 454 S. Harvey in Plymouth.
