Grand Rapids Public Schools School District
School District · Grand Rapids, Michigan
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
50
25 elem, 8 mid, 14 high
Enrollment
13,802
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
50
25 elem, 8 mid, 14 high
Enrollment
13,802
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
Evaluating Grand Rapids Public Schools?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Grand Rapids Public Schools as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
City Middlehigh
Grand Rapids · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Congress Elementary
Grand Rapids · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Ca Frost Environmental Science Academy Elementary
Grand Rapids · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Michigan rank
#371 of 533
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.6
below Michigan avg
Per-pupil spending
$17,732
+$3,149 vs Michigan median
District size
13,802 students
Much larger than Michigan median
The short answer
Grand Rapids Public Schools ranks #371 of 533 Michigan districts by overall school rating. Grand Rapids Public Schools's schools with real test data average 5.6/10 across 47 schools. Its top-rated schools are City Middlehigh (8.6/10), Congress Elementary (8.5/10), and Ca Frost Environmental Science Academy Elementary (8.2/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.5/10 despite 69% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Grand Rapids Public Schools schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Grand Rapids Public Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (47 of 50). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | City Middlehigh | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Congress Elementary | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Ca Frost Environmental Science Academy Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Aberdeen Academy | 8.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Grand Rapids Public Museum Middle | 7.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Grand Rapids Montessori Middlehigh | 7.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Union High Transition | 7.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Sherwood Global Studies Academy | 7.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Blandford School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Gerald R Ford Academic Center | 7.2 / 10 |
See all 50 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Grand Rapids Public Schools
Grand Rapids Public Schools is a Grand Rapids, Michigan school district serving 50 schools.The district educates 13,802 students with a student-teacher ratio of 17:1. District-level spending was $17,732 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.6/10, Grand Rapids Public Schools demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is City Middlehigh, which has a composite score of 8.6/10.
In standardized testing, Grand Rapids Public Schools students show an average math proficiency of 24.0% and ELA proficiency of 35.4%.
The district includes 25 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 14 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Grand Rapids Public Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Grand Rapids Public Schools with test data.
Schools in Grand Rapids Public Schools
50 schoolsElementary Schools25
Middle Schools8
High Schools14
District Details
- State
- Michigan
- City
- Grand Rapids
- Total Enrollment
- 13,802
- Teachers (FTE)
- 810
- District spending per student
- $17,732NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 19.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Grand Rapids Public Schools?
Grand Rapids Public Schools has 50 schools in total — 25 elementary, 8 middle, and 14 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Grand Rapids Public Schools?
The average composite rating for Grand Rapids Public Schools is 5.6/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Grand Rapids Public Schools?
Grand Rapids Public Schools's district-level spending was $17,732 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Grand Rapids Public Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Grand Rapids Public Schools is 17:1.
What is the top-rated school in Grand Rapids Public Schools?
City Middlehigh is the highest-rated school in Grand Rapids Public Schools with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What are the test scores in Grand Rapids Public Schools?
Across schools in Grand Rapids Public Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 24.0% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 35.4%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Grand Rapids Public Schools compare to other districts in Michigan?
Grand Rapids Public Schools has an average school rating of 5.6/10 across 50 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Michigan by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.6/10
- Math Proficiency
- 24.0%
- ELA Proficiency
- 35.4%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in MI
Compare Grand Rapids Public Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Detroit Public Schools Community District (106)
- Utica Community Schools (38)
- Dearborn City School District (37)
- Ann Arbor Public Schools (32)
- Kalamazoo Public Schools (31)
- Lansing Public School District (26)
- Livonia Public Schools School District (26)
- Michigan Department of Corrections (25)
- Plymouth-canton Community Schools (25)
- Warren Consolidated Schools (23)
- Rochester Community School District (22)
- Troy School District (21)
- Chippewa Valley Schools (20)
- Walled Lake Consolidated Schools (20)
- L'anse Creuse Public Schools (19)
- Forest Hills Public Schools (18)
- Waterford School District (17)
- Farmington Public School District (16)
- Huron Valley Schools (16)
- Kentwood Public Schools (16)
- Port Huron Area School District (16)
- Saginaw School District of the City of (16)
- Traverse City Area Public Schools (16)
- Wayne-westland Community School District (16)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Michigan Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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