Needs Improvement
#2980 of 3,192 schools in MI
Palmer School
Elementary School · Grand Rapids Public Schools · Grand Rapids, MI
A Grand Rapids Public Schools elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
309 PALMER ST NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
- Math 15% vs MI 37% (2022)
- Reading 25% vs MI 43% (2022)
- 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Palmer School score 18% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 21%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 7 points since 2019, to 20% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 25% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 38% (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
85.9%
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 Palmer 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 85Very Walkable
- Transit 31Some Transit
- Bike 78Very 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
$71,692
Median home value
$227,900
Median rent
$1,248/mo
College educated
39.8%
Homeownership
64.6%
Poverty rate
16.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49505; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isj Academy Pk-8Private · tuition | 6.6private | PK–8 | 0.4 mi | 63 | Compare → |
| Kent Hills ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.5 | PK–5 | 0.7 mi | 219 | Compare → |
| East Leonard ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.4 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 174 | Compare → |
| Stepping Stones Montessori SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.3private | PK–7 | 0.8 mi | 86 | 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.
Grand Rapids Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 51
- Rank in district
- #42 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
Palmer School is listed in Grand Rapids Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Palmer School
Palmer School is a public elementary school in Grand Rapids, MI, part of Grand Rapids Public Schools, serving approximately 184 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 out of 10 and ranks #2,980 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 25% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Palmer School
What grades does Palmer School serve?
Palmer School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Palmer School?
Palmer School has an enrollment of approximately 184 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palmer School?
The student-teacher ratio at Palmer School is 16.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Palmer School rank in MI?
Palmer School ranks #2,980 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Palmer School's MySchoolScout rating?
Palmer School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 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 Palmer School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Palmer School has 25% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Palmer School a charter school?
No, Palmer School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Palmer School a Title I school?
No, Palmer School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Palmer School?
85.9% of students at Palmer 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 184
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 11
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Kent County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 58.7%
- Phone
- (616) 819-2929
- Area population (ZIP 49505)
- 32,224
- Area average commute
- 19.6 min
- Area median age
- 34.7
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 49505; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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