Very Good
#856 of 3,192 schools in MI
Top 27% in state
Gerald R Ford Academic Center
Elementary School · Grand Rapids Public Schools · Grand Rapids, MI
A Grand Rapids Public Schools elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 8th.
851 Madison Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
- Math 11% vs MI 34% (2022)
- Reading 26% vs MI 44% (2022)
- 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Gerald R Ford Academic Center score 18% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 19%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 6 points since 2019, to 18% in 2022, across a 10-year record (2013–2022).
Show all 10 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 11% (multi-year average, 2013-2022) · reading/ELA 26% (multi-year average, 2013-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 32 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
89.6%
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 Gerald R Ford Academic Center 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 82Very Walkable
- Transit 43Some Transit
- Bike 60Bikeable
- 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
$56,578
Median home value
$179,600
Median rent
$1,114/mo
College educated
26.9%
Homeownership
60.6%
Poverty rate
27.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49507; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids Child Discovery CenterCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.8 | PK–5 | 0.6 mi | 285 | Compare → |
| Martin Luther King Leadership AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 4.6 | PK–8 | 0.6 mi | 268 | Compare → |
| Dickinson AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 4.4 | PK–8 | 1.1 mi | 228 | Compare → |
| Hope Academy of West MichiganCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.4 | PK–12 | 1.1 mi | 314 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Grand Rapids Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 51
- Rank in district
- #10 of 47
- District spending per student
- $17,732NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 19.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Gerald R Ford Academic Center is listed in Grand Rapids Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Gerald R Ford Academic Center
Gerald R Ford Academic Center is a public elementary school in Grand Rapids, MI, part of Grand Rapids Public Schools, serving approximately 230 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 out of 10 and ranks #856 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 11% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2022) and 26% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Gerald R Ford Academic Center
What grades does Gerald R Ford Academic Center serve?
Gerald R Ford Academic Center serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Gerald R Ford Academic Center?
Gerald R Ford Academic Center has an enrollment of approximately 230 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gerald R Ford Academic Center?
The student-teacher ratio at Gerald R Ford Academic Center is 17.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Gerald R Ford Academic Center rank in MI?
Gerald R Ford Academic Center ranks #856 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Gerald R Ford Academic Center's MySchoolScout rating?
Gerald R Ford Academic Center has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 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 Gerald R Ford Academic Center?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Gerald R Ford Academic Center has 11% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2022) and 26% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2022).
Is Gerald R Ford Academic Center a charter school?
No, Gerald R Ford Academic Center is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Gerald R Ford Academic Center a Title I school?
No, Gerald R Ford Academic Center is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Gerald R Ford Academic Center?
89.6% of students at Gerald R Ford Academic Center 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
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 230
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 13
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Kent County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 41.7%
- Phone
- (616) 819-2640
- Area population (ZIP 49507)
- 39,389
- Area average commute
- 20.7 min
- Area median age
- 29.9
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 49507; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2013-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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