Very Good
#588 of 3,192 schools in MI
Top 18% in state
Northern Trails 56 School
Middle School · Forest Hills Public Schools · Grand Rapids, MI
A Forest Hills Public Schools middle school serving grades 5th – 6th.
3777 LEONARD ST NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
- Math 60% vs MI 30% (2022)
- Reading 67% vs MI 41% (2022)
- 17.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Northern Trails 56 School score 63% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 63%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 33 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 63% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 64% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 74% (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 32 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
18.4%
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 Trails 56 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 13Car-Dependent
- Bike 17Somewhat 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Pointe Christian SchoolsPrivate · tuition | 5.2private | PK–12 | 0.7 mi | 879 | Compare → |
| Northpointe Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.6private | PK–12 | 0.7 mi | 907 | Compare → |
| Lincoln SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.7 | K–12 | 1.2 mi | 112 | Compare → |
| Lincoln Developmental CenterEnrollment path unverified | 8.1 | K–12 | 1.3 mi | 85 | 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.
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
- #14 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 Trails 56 School is listed in Forest Hills Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Northern Trails 56 School
Northern Trails 56 School is a public middle school in Grand Rapids, MI, part of Forest Hills Public Schools, serving approximately 499 students in grades 5th-6th with a 17.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #588 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Northern Trails 56 School
What grades does Northern Trails 56 School serve?
Northern Trails 56 School serves students in grades 5th through 6th.
How many students attend Northern Trails 56 School?
Northern Trails 56 School has an enrollment of approximately 499 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northern Trails 56 School?
The student-teacher ratio at Northern Trails 56 School is 17.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Northern Trails 56 School rank in MI?
Northern Trails 56 School ranks #588 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Northern Trails 56 School's MySchoolScout rating?
Northern Trails 56 School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 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 Trails 56 School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Northern Trails 56 School has 64% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 74% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Northern Trails 56 School a charter school?
No, Northern Trails 56 School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Northern Trails 56 School a Title I school?
No, Northern Trails 56 School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Northern Trails 56 School?
18.4% of students at Northern Trails 56 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
- 5th – 6th
- Enrollment
- 499
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 28
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Kent County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 7.0%
- Phone
- (616) 493-8990
- 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 · 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 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, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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