Very Good
#1045 of 3,192 schools in MI
Top 33% in state
Challenger Elementary
Elementary School · Kentwood Public Schools · Grand Rapids, MI
A Kentwood Public Schools elementary school where students score 15 points above what's typical for similar communities.
2475 52ND ST SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508
- Math 31% vs MI 37% (2022)
- Reading 48% vs MI 43% (2022)
- 17.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Challenger Elementary score 40% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 45 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 40% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 51% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 34 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
78.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Challenger Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 9Car-Dependent
- Bike 50Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,416/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Grand Rapids), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$65,328
Median home value
$257,900
Median rent
$1,179/mo
College educated
33.2%
Homeownership
61.1%
Poverty rate
11.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49508; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trinitas Classical SchoolPrivate · tuition | 8.6private | K–8 | 0.6 mi | 66 | Compare → |
| Discovery ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | K–5 | 1.0 mi | 700 | Compare → |
| Brookwood ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | PK–5 | 1.2 mi | 363 | Compare → |
| Excel Charter AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 6.3 | K–12 | 1.3 mi | 783 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Kentwood Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 16
- Rank in district
- #6 of 16
- District spending per student
- $15,114NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 16.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Challenger Elementary is listed in Kentwood Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Challenger Elementary
Challenger Elementary is a public elementary school in Grand Rapids, MI, part of Kentwood Public Schools, serving approximately 367 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 17.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,045 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Challenger Elementary
What grades does Challenger Elementary serve?
Challenger Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Challenger Elementary?
Challenger Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 367 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenger Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenger Elementary is 17.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Challenger Elementary rank in MI?
Challenger Elementary ranks #1,045 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Challenger Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Challenger Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Challenger Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Challenger Elementary has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Challenger Elementary a charter school?
No, Challenger Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Challenger Elementary a Title I school?
No, Challenger Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Challenger Elementary?
78.7% of students at Challenger Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 367
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Kent County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 25.3%
- Phone
- (616) 698-2524
- Area population (ZIP 49508)
- 41,924
- Area average commute
- 20.9 min
- Area median age
- 35.6
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 49508; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.