Grand Rapids Public Schools

Grand Rapids Public Schools has been shaping West Michigan education for more than 150 years, operating 51 schools across the city and serving nearly 14,000 students in grades PK–12—making it the state's eighth-largest district and the third-largest employer in Grand Rapids. The system offers the widest range of school choices in the region, from neighborhood schools to theme-based programs and Centers of Innovation that connect students with professional mentors and internship opportunities; City High Middle School, one of the district's test-in schools, consistently ranks among the top performing schools in Michigan according to U.S. News & World Report. Like many urban districts, GRPS faces real challenges: only about a quarter of students test proficient in reading, and the teacher shortage that hit after 2020 has left more than half the teaching staff with a decade or less of experience. The district has invested in modern, LEED-certified buildings with contemporary educational design, though it's also managing a "Reimagine GRPS" consolidation plan that will close 10 schools by 2029. Spending runs $16,719 per student annually, and the district sits just 2.3 minutes from downtown, with 32 parks within a mile—including Baldwin Park a short walk away—plus restaurants, coffee, and groceries steps from most neighborhoods.