Excellent
#99 of 3,192 schools in MI
Top 3% in state
Northern High School
High School · Forest Hills Public Schools · Grand Rapids, MI
A Forest Hills Public Schools high school where students score 7 points above what's typical for similar communities.
3801 LEONARD ST NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
- Math 57% proficient (2021)
- Reading 81% proficient (2021)
- 98.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Northern High School score 69% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 62%).
2021 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 5 points since 2018, to 69% in 2021, across a 13-year record (2009–2021).
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 60% (multi-year average, 2009-2021) · reading/ELA 74% (multi-year average, 2009-2021)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 26 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
18.9%
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 Northern High School 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 23Somewhat Bikeable
- 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
$87,969
Median home value
$292,500
Median rent
$1,335/mo
College educated
49.1%
Homeownership
78.4%
Poverty rate
8.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49525; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Hills Transition CenterEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | 12 | 0.2 mi | 12 | Compare → |
| North Pointe Christian SchoolsPrivate · tuition | 5.2private | PK–12 | 0.9 mi | 879 | Compare → |
| Northpointe Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.6private | PK–12 | 0.9 mi | 907 | Compare → |
| Lincoln SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.7 | K–12 | 1.0 mi | 112 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Forest Hills Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 18
- Rank in district
- #2 of 17
- District spending per student
- $14,504NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 3.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Northern High School is listed in Forest Hills Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Northern High School
Northern High School is a public high school in Grand Rapids, MI, part of Forest Hills Public Schools, serving approximately 1,109 students in grades 9th-12th with a 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #99 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Northern High School
What grades does Northern High School serve?
Northern High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Northern High School?
Northern High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,109 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northern High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Northern High School is 16.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Northern High School rank in MI?
Northern High School ranks #99 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Northern High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Northern High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 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 Northern High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Northern High School has 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).
Is Northern High School a charter school?
No, Northern High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Northern High School a Title I school?
No, Northern High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Northern High School?
18.9% of students at Northern High School 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
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,109
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 69
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Kent County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 18.9%
- Phone
- (616) 493-8600
- 4-Year Graduation
- 98.0%
- Area population (ZIP 49525)
- 30,627
- Area average commute
- 19.6 min
- Area median age
- 38.3
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 · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2021 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 · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2021 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 49525; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2021; directory SY 2023–24
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