Average
#1172 of 3,190 schools in MI
Top 37% in state
River City Scholars Charter Academy
Elementary School · River City Scholars Charter Academy
944 Evergreen Street, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Enrollment
293
Student-Teacher
10.9:1
Score
6.8
Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
293
Student-Teacher
10.9:1
Score
6.8
Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Grand Rapids
#5 of 15
public schools
Michigan elementary schools
#686 of 1,602
School environment
9.6 / 10
Exceptional
About River City Scholars Charter Academy
River City Scholars Charter Academy serves 293 students from kindergarten through eighth grade in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This charter school has earned impressive recognition, ranking 39th out of 3,204 schools statewide and placing in the 99th percentile for Michigan elementary schools, with a strong 7.5 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout. The school maintains a favorable learning environment with 27 full-time equivalent teachers providing instruction at a 10.9-to-1 student-teacher ratio, allowing for more individualized attention than many traditional public schools.
This smaller class size structure supports the school's academic success and creates opportunities for teachers to work closely with each student. Located on Evergreen Street in the 49507 zip code area, River City Scholars Charter Academy operates within a diverse Grand Rapids neighborhood where the median household income is $52,887 and median home value reaches $161,000. The surrounding community includes families from various economic backgrounds, with 25% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher, while 26.8% of the population lives below the poverty line.
The school sits in Grand Rapids' mid-size city environment, providing students access to urban resources while maintaining a focused educational atmosphere that has clearly contributed to its exceptional statewide performance ranking.
What Parents Should Know
River City Scholars Charter Academy is a charter school — a publicly funded school that operates with more autonomy than traditional district schools. Charter schools often have distinct educational models or specialties. Parents should understand the school's specific mission, enrollment process, and how its approach differs from nearby district options.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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River City Scholars Charter Academy — Students at River City Scholars Charter Academy score 13% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 14%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
96.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MI EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 18 test records from MI state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 6.9/10.
How River City Scholars Charter Academy Compares
See how River City Scholars Charter Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 12% (2019) to 7.74% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 21% (2019) to 18.58% (2022).
Location
944 Evergreen Street, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering River City Scholars Charter Academy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Congress Elementary (rated 9.3/10, 1.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 8.6/10, 1.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center (rated 8.4/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Grand Rapids, see our Grand Rapids schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.7 miNeighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 49507 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$56,578
Median Home Value
$179,600
Median Rent
$1,114/mo
Population
39,389
College Educated
26.9%
Homeownership
60.6%
Avg Commute
20.7 min
Poverty Rate
27.3%
Median Age
29.9
Community Profile
The community surrounding River City Scholars Charter Academy has a median household income of $56,578. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $179,600, with a median rent of $1,114/month. The area has a poverty rate of 27.3%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| ANN ARBOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Ann Arbor, MI | 6.8 |
| Alamo Elementary School Kalamazoo, MI | 6.8 |
| Bad Axe Middle School Bad Axe, MI | 6.8 |
| Cooke STEM Academy Detroit, MI | 6.8 |
| Discovery Creative Pathways Redford Redford, MI | 6.8 |
| Forest Grove Elementary School Hudsonville, MI | 6.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about River City Scholars Charter Academy
What grades does River City Scholars Charter Academy serve?
River City Scholars Charter Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend River City Scholars Charter Academy?
River City Scholars Charter Academy has an enrollment of approximately 293 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at River City Scholars Charter Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at River City Scholars Charter Academy is 10.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does River City Scholars Charter Academy rank in MI?
River City Scholars Charter Academy is ranked #1172 out of 3,190 schools in MI.
What is River City Scholars Charter Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
River City Scholars Charter Academy has a composite rating of 6.8 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at River City Scholars Charter Academy?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, River City Scholars Charter Academy has 8.6% math proficiency and 18.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is River City Scholars Charter Academy a charter school?
Yes, River City Scholars Charter Academy is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is River City Scholars Charter Academy a Title I school?
No, River City Scholars Charter Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for River City Scholars Charter Academy?
96.6% of students at River City Scholars Charter Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (3,416/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Grand Rapids). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 8th
- Enrollment
- 293
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 27
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 96.6%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Kent County
- Phone
- (616) 248-3390
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
River City Scholars Charter Academy- District Enrollment
- 293
- Schools in District
- 1
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,078
- District Rank
- #1 of 1
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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