Grand Rapids MI Education News — Page 2
HERE Education covers every school, deadline, and funding opportunity in Kent. From K-12 to Grand Valley State University — use our Right School Right Neighborhood quiz, search the full directory, and track what matters.
Kent is home to 6 school districts serving students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. High schools serving Grand Rapids families include Ottawa Hills High School (Bengals), Union High School (Red Hawks), Innovation Central High School (Phoenix), City High-Middle School (Ravens), Forest Hills Central High School (Rangers), and 7 more. HEREGrandRapids covers every school board meeting, budget cycle, and academic milestone across Kent.
Grand Rapids's higher-education landscape includes 6 institutions: Grand Valley State University; Calvin University; Aquinas College; Cornerstone University; Grand Rapids Community College; Davenport University. HEREGrandRapids covers admissions deadlines, scholarship windows, athletic schedules, and campus announcements for each institution.
MI's public-school governance flows through the MI Department of Education, which administers MI READY assessments each spring and enforces the Read to Succeed Act — requiring third-grade reading proficiency before promotion. The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) governs interscholastic athletics across the state. Teacher pay begins at the state minimum and is locally supplemented — making salaries a perennial flashpoint at budget hearings.
HEREGrandRapids tracks school-board meetings across Kent — agendas, votes, and budget summaries published before local papers. Our reporters cover graduation rates and MI READY scores; teacher-contract negotiations; school resource officers; SAT and ACT data; Title I funding allocations; building bond referenda; and the Friday Night Football calendar. From dual-enrollment windows at local technical colleges to faculty announcements at area universities — if it happens in a Grand Rapids classroom or on a Kent campus, it is HERE.
Education News
Democrats Keep MSU Board Seats, Flip Wayne State Posts
Grand Rapids MI Education LANSING, Mich. — Democrats swept the statewide races for Michigan State University trustees and Wayne State...
Michigan Voters Weigh Nearly $4 Billion in School Bonds
Grand Rapids MI Education LANSING, Mich. — School construction money is on the line across Michigan on Election Day, with...
Grand Rapids Schools Pick Allison Tingwall as Superintendent
Grand Rapids MI Education GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Public Schools has its choice for the next superintendent: Allison...
GVSU Starts Work on Blue Dot Lab Tech Hub in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids MI Education GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Valley State University held a groundbreaking Tuesday, Oct. 27, for the...
GRPS Board Names Superintendent Finalists Tonight in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids MI Education GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Public Schools moves into the last stretch of its superintendent...
Three Candidates Advance in Grand Rapids Superintendent Search
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Public Schools board narrowed its superintendent search Saturday, moving three candidates ahead after...
Right School. Right Neighborhood. HERE!
Tell us what matters to your family — schools, community feel, budget — and we'll match you to the right Grand Rapids neighborhood.
What grades are you shopping schools for?
What matters most to you in a school? (Select up to 3)
What kind of community feels like home?
Which part of Kent?
Tell us about your move
Where should we send your neighborhood match?
We'll email your personalized school & neighborhood report — free, no obligation.
No spam. We match you with a local real estate expert only if you want us to.
Your Grand Rapids Neighborhood Match
Grand Rapids offers a range of neighborhoods that match different school and lifestyle priorities. Connect with a local real estate expert to explore what fits your family best.
Grand Rapids School Directory, Report Cards, and School News
Kent High Schools
Grand Rapids Public Schools
County: Kent
Forest Hills Public Schools
County: Kent
Kentwood Public Schools
County: Kent
Diocese of Grand Rapids (Private)
County: Kent
East Grand Rapids Public Schools
County: Kent
Northview Public Schools
County: Kent
MI Governor's School for Science & Mathematics
Type: Residential magnet high school for MI students
Applications open annually
District & Local School News
Grand Rapids Schools Pick Allison Tingwall as Superintendent
Grand Rapids MI Education GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Public Schools has its choice for the next superintendent: Allison...
GVSU Starts Work on Blue Dot Lab Tech Hub in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids MI Education GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Valley State University held a groundbreaking Tuesday, Oct. 27, for the...
GRPS Board Names Superintendent Finalists Tonight in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids MI Education GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Public Schools moves into the last stretch of its superintendent...
Three Candidates Advance in Grand Rapids Superintendent Search
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Public Schools board narrowed its superintendent search Saturday, moving three candidates ahead after...
School Report Cards
Official annual ratings from the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee and the South Carolina Department of Education. Showing every rated public school in Kent County for the 2024-25 school year.
Click any school to view the full report card on the official SC Report Cards site (graduation rate, academic progress, school climate, financial data).
Report card data loading.
Statewide SC public school ratings are refreshed annually. Check back soon.
Featured Schools & Programs
Grand Valley State University serves Grand Rapids and the surrounding West Michigan region.
Calvin University serves Grand Rapids and the surrounding West Michigan region.
Aquinas College serves Grand Rapids and the surrounding West Michigan region.
MI's elite residential magnet school for mathematically and scientifically gifted students. Open to all MI students.
$6,000 per year for high school seniors planning to teach in MI. Competitive program recognizing future educators.
High school juniors and seniors can earn college credit at Grand Rapids Community College at no cost under MI's Dual Enrollment program.
The HERE Decision Maker
6 questions, a personalized education & career roadmap. Free. No sign-up.
Where are you right now?
What matters most to you?
How do you learn best?
How much time can you commit?
What career field interests you most?
Where should we send your personalized roadmap?
We'll email your free education & career plan — no obligation.
Your Grand Rapids Education & Career Plan
Based on your answers, here are the top 3 paths we recommend in Grand Rapids.
We'll send a PDF summary plus local scholarship and program contacts.
Online & Hybrid Education
Accredited programs for Kent residents who need flexibility.
Online and hybrid degree and certificate programs. MI in-state tuition rates available for eligible students.
Online and hybrid degree and certificate programs. MI in-state tuition rates available for eligible students.
Google, IBM, Meta, and other employer-backed certificates. Many are accepted by Kent's manufacturing and tech employers. Some WIOA-funded.
The MI Technical College System offers online certificates and associate degree programs through the state's 16 technical colleges.
School Board Meetings
HEREGrandRapids covers every public school board meeting in Kent — agendas published in advance, votes summarized after.
Location: Kent — district office
Location: Kent — district office
Location: Kent — district office
Location: Kent — district office
Location: Kent — district office
Location: Kent — district office
Key Education Policy Issues — Kent
Education FAQ — Grand Rapids
How many school districts does Kent have?
Kent is served by 6 school districts. Each district has its own elected board, superintendent, and budget. Use our School Neighborhood Matcher above to find which district fits your family.
How do I enroll my child in a Kent school?
Enrollment is handled at the district level. Your school district is determined by your home address. Contact the relevant district office or visit their website for forms, residency requirements, and deadlines.
What colleges are in or near Grand Rapids?
Grand Rapids and Kent are served by 6 higher-education institutions: Grand Valley State University, Calvin University, Aquinas College, Cornerstone University, and more. Use our Decision Maker tool above to find the right fit for your goals.
Is there financial aid available for Grand Rapids students?
Yes — the MI LIFE and Palmetto Fellows scholarships are merit-based awards for students attending MI colleges. MI WINS is a workforce scholarship for technical programs. FAFSA is available for all eligible students. Grand Rapids Community College's Dual Enrollment program lets high schoolers earn free college credits. The MI Teaching Fellows scholarship provides $6,000/year for future educators.
How does high school athletics work in Kent?
High school athletics in Kent are governed by the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). Schools compete in classifications based on enrollment (1A–5A for most sports). HEREGrandRapids covers every home game, playoff bracket, and signing-day announcement.
How do I submit a tip or story idea to HEREGrandRapids?
Use the Submit an Education Tip form at the top of this page. We cover school board decisions, program announcements, scholarship opportunities, enrollment deadlines, and any issue affecting Kent students and families. Tips can be submitted anonymously.
Grand Rapids is in Kent County, Michigan. Colleges serving the area: Grand Valley State University (GVSU) — Allendale/Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), Calvin University, Aquinas College, Cornerstone University, Davenport University and Kendall College of Art and Design (Ferris State University).
Grand Rapids education business profiles
Latest Grand Rapids Education News — Page 2
Three Candidates Advance in Grand Rapids Superintendent Search
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Public Schools board narrowed its superintendent search Saturday, moving three candidates ahead after a special meeting to review the semifinalists. One…
360 Michigan Schools Earn MI HEARTSafe Status
EAST LANSING, Mich. — State health officials recognized 360 Michigan schools on Friday for being ready to respond when a student, coach or visitor goes into cardiac arrest,…
Michigan Public University Enrollment Falls 2% This Fall
LANSING, Mich. — After three years of holding steady, enrollment at Michigan's public universities slipped again this fall. The state's 15 public campuses counted 254,107 students, down 5,223,…
Michigan Summer Tutoring Pilot Lifts Young Readers’ Skills
LANSING, Mich. — A small summer experiment in one-on-one tutoring produced measurable gains for some of Michigan's youngest students, according to an independent evaluation the state released Friday,…
David Votta Named Michigan State Librarian
LANSING, Mich. — The Library of Michigan has a permanent leader again. The Michigan Department of Education has appointed David Votta, who had been running the library on…
Michigan School Funding Outpaces Inflation as Scores Slide
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan is putting more money into its public schools than it did before the pandemic, even after inflation, but the results students post on state…
Most Michigan School Districts Fail Gun Storage Notice Check
LANSING, Mich. — Fewer than half of Michigan's public school districts appear to be following a state law that requires them to tell families how to store guns…
Hochul opts New York into federal school choice tax credit
WASHINGTON — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday her state will join the new federal scholarship tax credit, becoming the second Democratic governor to opt in voluntarily…
Grand Rapids, Mich., museum gets astronaut Koch photos
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Signed photographs from Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch, a Grand Rapids, Mich., native, arrived at the Grand Rapids Public Museum on Wednesday morning, Oct.…
National School Calendar Trends Show Mid-August Starts for Michigan, Including Grand Rapids
An overview of school year calendars across the United States for the 2024-2026 academic periods reveals consistent national patterns in when students begin and end their studies. The…
Grand Rapids Families Navigate Varied School Holiday Schedules for 2025-26 and 2026-27
The landscape of school holidays across the United States remains a complex patchwork, with more than 13,000 individual school districts independently determining their academic calendars. For families in…
Grand Rapids Schools Face Renewed Scrutiny Over Classroom Cooling and Ventilation Amid Heat Waves
Grand Rapids public schools, like many districts nationwide, are facing renewed attention on their cooling and ventilation systems as recent heat waves have caused significant disruptions. The intense…
