Grand Rapids Public Schools is a public school district located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Based on the number of students, it is the eighth largest school district in Michigan for the 2023-2024 school year.

History

Grand Rapids Public Schools was formed in 1871 when the state legislature passed a law to create the Board of Education for the City of Grand Rapids. The law stated that the school district’s boundaries would match the city’s boundaries. Before this, the city had not created a single school district. Instead, the west side was part of the Union School District, and the east side of the Grand River was served by two other districts.

After 1871, the city and school matters were closely connected because the school board had to get approval from the city for its budget. When the city expanded, the school district expanded as well. The Constitution of 1908 stopped special laws for certain areas, so the city expanded through annexation until the 1920s, when school laws became more clearly written. In 1962, a law requiring the city and school district to have the same boundaries was removed. Since then, expanding the city has not changed the school district’s boundaries.

Today, the relationship between Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) and the city is different from 100 years ago. The city no longer controls the school budget, the district’s ability to borrow money, or its ability to issue bonds. Now, the city’s role is to hold school elections and collect school taxes after the school board decides how much tax to collect. Laws continue to require that cities and schools operate separately.

Before May 1906, the school board had 25 members. Two members were elected from each of the city’s 12 wards, and the mayor of Grand Rapids was an ex-officio member. The election process caused many schools to be built based on wards instead of the city’s needs. In May 1906, the board’s size was reduced to nine members. These members are now elected by all city residents and serve three-year terms.

At first, the board used space on the first floor of City Hall. By 1915, the board had full use of the fourth floor. Other offices were in the old North Division School and the old Junior College Building. The maintenance department was in the former Pleasant Street School. In June 1920, the board moved all its offices to the fifth floor of a new addition to George A. Davis Vocational and Technical High School. This building later became the West Junior College Building. The new addition was designed specifically for the board’s offices. A 1927 city rule requiring a $5,000 annual rent for City Hall space was a key reason for the move. However, the main reason was to improve efficiency by keeping all administrative staff in one location.

Initially, the board used a system where the school superintendent and business manager each reported directly to the board. In 1937, the chief engineer also reported directly to the board, instead of to the business manager.

On March 2, 1959, the administrative structure changed so the school superintendent was the only employee directly responsible to the board. The business manager was placed under the superintendent, and the chief engineer reported to the business manager.

In 2012, Superintendent Theresa Weatherall Neall received approval from the school board to save over $22.4 million in five years by closing ten school buildings.

By the 1850s, there were two union school districts in the city, one on each side of the river. The first high school on the east side was built in 1859. It was replaced by the Old Stone School in 1867 and by another building in 1893. These buildings were replaced in 1911 by Grand Rapids Central High School, now called Innovation Central High School.

The west side organized a union school district in 1853 and built a wooden school that year. It was replaced two years later by a stone building on 4th Street NW. This building was replaced by Union High School in 1897, which became Grand Rapids’ second high school. Union High School was replaced by the current building in September 1967.

South High School opened in 1917 at 100 Hall St. SE. President Gerald Ford graduated from the school in 1931. It closed as a high school in 1968 and operated as a junior high until 1981. As of 2018, it is the Gerald R. Ford Jobs Corps Center, run by the U.S. Department of Labor.

When South High School closed in 1968, its students were bused to other district high schools. About 300 African-American students joined Union High School, which was mostly white at the time. In fall 1968, racial violence caused school closures and arrests at Union. As recorded in the school yearbook, “1968-1969 was a year of change… Union became an integrated school. Unfortunately, this plan was not peaceful… Some students were arrested, some were suspended, and some were hurt. School was dismissed early for Christmas, and discussions involving faculty, parents, and students were held. Changes were made, such as stricter rule enforcement, worried parents patrolling the halls, and the principal’s resignation.”

Creston High School was built in 1923 and closed in 2013. It reopened as City High-Middle School that same year.

The first Ottawa Hills High School was built in 1924 at 1050 Iroquois Drive SE. It became Iroquois Middle School when the current Ottawa Hills High School opened in 1975. The building closed in 2005 and was torn down around 2009.

C.A. Frost Environmental Science Middle/High School, a school focused on science, opened in fall 2016 in the former Covell Elementary.

Southwest Middle High School/Academia Bilingüe, a Spanish-language immersion school, opened in 2020. The architect was TMP Associates.

Schools

GRPS offers many types of schools, including neighborhood, theme, Center of Innovation, special education, and charter schools. Neighborhood schools provide a traditional education. These schools are located throughout the city and are open to all students who live in a specific attendance area. Some neighborhood schools have special programs that help connect local residents with their schools.

Theme schools use the traditional curriculum but add a specific theme to create a unique learning experience. Examples of themes include environmental science, arts and music, global studies, leadership, Montessori, and International Baccalaureate. Many theme schools also offer place-based learning and activities that match their themes. Four theme schools require students to take tests to enroll. City High Middle School, one of these schools, is often ranked as the top school in West Michigan. It is also listed among the top schools in the state by U.S. News & World Report and The Washington Post. By 2017, more students were enrolling in theme schools.

Centers of Innovation are partnerships between public schools and private organizations. These centers help students connect with professional mentors and offer opportunities like job shadowing, internships, and the chance to earn college or trade school credits. They also help students prepare for careers in high-demand fields.

GRPS provides special education services for students in the Kent Intermediate School District (KISD). Students qualify for these services through a process called the IEP team. GRPS also has one charter elementary school, Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center. Schools may also offer services for English language learners, "community schools" with social, health, and mental health services, all-day preschool, and all-day kindergarten.

Closed Schools:
– Creston High School (closed 2014)
– Central High School (closed 2014)
– South High School (closed 1968)
– Adelante High School (alternative school)

Elementary Schools:
– Alexander Elementary School (closed 2010)
– Campau Park Elementary School (closed 2013; building purchased by Covenant House Michigan for $400,000 and became Covenant House Academy Grand Rapids)
– Covell Elementary School (closed 2013; building repurposed as the grade 6-10 campus of the C.A. Frost Environmental Science Academy in 2016)
– Heritage Child Development Center (building offered for purchase by Masjid Muhammad Islamic Center in 2008)
– Eastern Elementary School (purchased by Ojibway Development LLC, later sold to National Heritage Academies in 2012)
– Hillcrest Elementary School (sold to Living Stones Academy for $375,000 in 2014)
– Lexington Elementary School (sold to National Heritage Academies in 2012; district believed it would become apartments)
– Oakdale Elementary School (sold to National Heritage Academies in 2012; became River City Scholars Charter Academy; mayor accused developer of misleading the district in 2012)
– Park School (previously used by a Head Start program; offered for purchase by Kent County Land Bank in 2016 for Dwelling Place to develop apartments)
– Pine Elementary School (opened in 1948, later housed Pine Academy, closed in 2010; offered for purchase by Kent County Land Bank in 2016 for Dwelling Place to develop apartments)
– Ridgemoor Park Child Development Center (became Ridgemoor Park Montessori)
– Shawnee Park Math/Science/Technology Academy (closed in 2013; building offered for purchase by Grand Rapids Christian Schools in 2013 for $800,000; district accepted the offer in 2014)
– Wellerwood Child Development Center (now part of North Park Montessori)
– West Leonard Elementary School/West Leonard Child Development Center (closed in 2013; offered for purchase by W.L. Perry Associates in 2014 for $250,000; Cherry Street Capital, LLC offered the same amount in 2017)

Other:
– GRPS operated the Kent Education Center (KEC) Mayfield in a building owned by Kent Intermediate School District. GRPS closed this program in 2013, and Kent ISD opened its own program in its place.

Other facilities

GRPS University is a district training center. It was once the location of City High Middle School and Northeast Junior High.