Orchard View Elementary School vs Congress Elementary
Congress Elementary has a higher overall rating of 8.5/10 compared to 7.3/10. Orchard View Elementary School is significantly larger with 436 students, about 2.4× the size of Congress Elementary (182). In math proficiency, Orchard View Elementary School leads at 97.0%.
Orchard View Elementary School
Grand Rapids, MI
436 students
Congress Elementary
Grand Rapids, MI
182 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Orchard View Elementary School | Congress Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 7.3 / 10 | 8.5 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 8.7 | 8.8 |
| Growth Score | 5.8 | 8.8 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 22.9% | 69.2% |
| Environment Score | 8.8 | 7.3 |
| State Rank | #779 of 3,192 | #159 of 3,192 |
| State Percentile | 76th | 95th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Orchard View Elementary School | Congress Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 97.0% | 72.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 96.0% | 67.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Orchard View Elementary School | Congress Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Pre-K – 5th |
| Enrollment | 436 | 182 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 15.6:1 | 15.2:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 22.9% | 69.2% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 13.8% | 44.0% |
| District | Forest Hills Public Schools | Grand Rapids Public Schools |
| City | Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Grand Rapids (49525) | Grand Rapids (49506) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $87,969 | $112,287 |
| Median Home Value | $292,500 | $338,600 |
| Median Rent | $1,335 | $1,305 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 49.1% | 67.0% |
| Poverty Rate | 8.5% | 7.3% |
| Avg Commute | 20 min | 18 min |
The data story: Orchard View Elementary School vs Congress Elementary
Orchard View Elementary School and Congress Elementary sit 4.2 miles apart in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and land within one spot of each other in state rankings — Orchard View Elementary at #85 of 3190 Michigan schools, Congress Elementary at #86 of 3190. Both carry a 9.0/10 overall rating, making this a genuinely close comparison where the meaningful differences live in the details rather than the headline numbers.
Academically, Congress Elementary holds a narrow edge: an 8.8/10 academic score against Orchard View Elementary's 8.7/10, and a more notable growth score gap of 9.8/10 versus 9.4/10. That 0.4-point growth difference suggests Congress Elementary students are making measurably faster year-over-year gains relative to expectations, which can matter more than starting proficiency levels for families thinking about long-term trajectory.
The demographic picture separates these schools significantly. Orchard View Elementary enrolls 436 students compared to Congress Elementary's 182 — more than double the size — and serves a much less economically stressed population: 23% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch versus 69% at Congress Elementary. Student-teacher ratios are close (15.6:1 at Orchard View versus 15.2:1 at Congress), so class size is essentially a wash. Congress Elementary's higher FRL rate indicates a school that is successfully posting near-identical academic outcomes while educating a substantially higher-need population.
One structural difference stands out for families with younger children: Congress Elementary serves grades PK–05, offering pre-kindergarten on-site, while Orchard View Elementary begins at kindergarten (KG–05). For parents seeking a single building from pre-K through fifth grade, Congress Elementary provides that continuity. Orchard View Elementary's larger enrollment may also mean broader extracurricular options and more peer diversity within the grade band, though no specific program data was provided to confirm that directly.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Orchard View Elementary School
Orchard View Elementary School fits families who want a larger school community — 436 students versus 182 — with a slightly lower socioeconomic concentration (23% FRL) and strong top-tier state rankings. It's the better fit if your child is entering kindergarten and you prefer a higher-enrollment campus where a broader peer group is part of the draw.
Congress Elementary
Congress Elementary suits families with pre-kindergarten-age children who want to start and stay in one building through fifth grade. Its 9.8/10 growth score — 0.4 points above Orchard View Elementary — makes it especially compelling for parents who prioritize academic acceleration, and its outcomes are particularly impressive given that 69% of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch.