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Excellent

#159 of 3,192 schools in MI

Top 5% in state

Congress Elementary

Elementary School · Grand Rapids Public Schools

940 BALDWIN ST SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506

Enrollment

182

Student-Teacher

15.2:1

Score

8.5

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Michigan schools

#159 of 3,192

In Grand Rapids

#6 of 126

public schools

In district

#2 of 47

Grand Rapids Public Schools

Equity

9.1 / 10

Excellent

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Congress Elementary

8.5/10

Elementary School in Grand Rapids · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Kent Education Centeroakleigh

9.3/10

GRAND RAPIDS, MI. Compare side by side with Congress Elementary before ruling this option in or out.

North Oakview Elementary School

7.2/10

Grand Rapids, MI. Compare side by side with Congress Elementary before ruling this option in or out.

About Congress Elementary

Congress Elementary is a public elementary school in Grand Rapids, MI, part of Grand Rapids Public Schools. Congress Elementary serves approximately 182 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Congress Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranks #159 of 3,192 schools in MI.

Structured state assessment records for Congress Elementary show 36% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 48% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it compares3.1 pts above district
  • This school 8.5 · Excellent
  • District avg 5.4
  • MI avg 6.1

What Parents Should Know

At 182 students, Congress Elementary is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

44% of students at Congress Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.8Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.04 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics8.8Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency42.6% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency56.6% (2022 EdFacts)
Math vs. State Avg+0.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+14.7 pts
Overall Proficiency50% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)31% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+18.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile82th
Resources & Environment7.3Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,732
Chronic Absenteeism44%

Congress Elementary — Students at Congress Elementary score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 31%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

69.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MI EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 36.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
36.6% (2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency 47.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
43.1% (2022 EdFacts)

Based on 34 test records from MI state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
72%
ELA
67%
2010
Math
77%
ELA
62%
2011
Math
12%
ELA
32%
2012
Math
22%
ELA
47%
2013
Math
27%
ELA
57%
2014
Math
22%
ELA
32%
2015
Math
27%
ELA
37%
2016
Math
22%
ELA
37%
2017
Math
32%
ELA
32%
2018
Math
22%
ELA
37%
2019
Math
22%
ELA
37%
2020*
Math
44.5%
ELA
54.5%
2021*
Math
44.5%
ELA
54.5%
2022
Math
42.8%
ELA
56.3%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.8/10.

How Congress Elementary Compares

See how Congress Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.5/10
95th percentile in MI
Academic
8.8/10
Excellent
Growth
8.8/10
Excellent
Environment
7.3/10
Very Good

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
69%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
12 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
44.0%

Location

940 BALDWIN ST SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Congress Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 8.6/10, 0.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center (rated 7.8/10, 0.9 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, ST STEPHEN SCHOOL (rated 7.7/10, 1.2 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Grand Rapids, see our Grand Rapids schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Martin Luther King Leadership Academy Grand Rapids 0.6 mi 4.6
ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Grand Rapids 0.5 mi 8.6
William C Abney Academy Elementary Grand Rapids 0.6 mi 3.8
LIVING STONES ACADEMY Grand Rapids 0.7 mi 5.9
Grand Rapids Montessori Academy Grand Rapids 0.7 mi 5.3
Grand Rapids Learning Center Grand Rapids 0.7 mi 6.4
Empower U Grand Rapids 0.8 mi 5.9
Innovation Central High Grand Rapids 0.8 mi 6.7
Grand Rapids Montessori MiddleHigh Grand Rapids 0.8 mi 7.8
Campus Elementary Grand Rapids 0.9 mi 6.7
Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center Grand Rapids 0.9 mi 7.8
Grand Rapids Public Museum High Grand Rapids 0.9 mi 5.7
Bethany Based School Grand Rapids 1.3 mi
Gerald R Ford Academic Center Grand Rapids 1.2 mi 7.2
Lighthouse Academy The Pier Grand Rapids 1.2 mi
ST STEPHEN SCHOOL Grand Rapids 1.2 mi 7.7
CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Grand Rapids 1.1 mi 5.9
Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy Grand Rapids 1.2 mi 5.2
Coit Creative Arts Academy Grand Rapids 1.3 mi 4.5
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes Grand Rapids 1.6 mi 6.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 49506 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$112,287

Median Home Value

$338,600

Median Rent

$1,305/mo

Population

35,025

College Educated

67%

Homeownership

75.9%

Avg Commute

18.1 min

Poverty Rate

7.3%

Median Age

33.4

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Honey Creek Community School Ann Arbor, MI 8.5
Mill Creek Elementary School Williamsburg, MI 8.5
Riverside Intermediate School Manchester, MI 8.5
Robinson School Grand Haven, MI 8.5
Avoca Elementary School Avoca, MI 8.6
Clifford E Bryant Comm School Ann Arbor, MI 8.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Congress Elementary

What grades does Congress Elementary serve?

Congress Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Congress Elementary?

Congress Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 182 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Congress Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Congress Elementary is 15.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Congress Elementary rank in MI?

Congress Elementary ranks #159 of 3,192 schools in MI.

What is Congress Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Congress Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 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 Congress Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Congress Elementary has 36% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 48% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Congress Elementary a charter school?

No, Congress Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Congress Elementary a Title I school?

No, Congress Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Congress Elementary?

69.2% of students at Congress 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
96 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
39 Some Transit
Bike Score
63 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Compare This School

How does Congress Elementary stack up?

Kent Education CenterOakleigh
9.3
North Oakview Elementary School
7.2
Meadow Brook Elementary School
8.0
Compare Selected →

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
182
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
12
Free/Reduced Lunch
69.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Kent County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
44.0%

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