Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Kent County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 225 public schools serving 97,252 students in Kent County, MI (there are 72 private schools, serving 18,047 private students). 85% of all K-12 students in Kent County, MI are educated in public schools (compared to the MI state average of 91%). Kent County has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in Michigan.
The top-ranked public schools in Kent County, MI are Brown Elementary School, Caledonia Elementary School and Countryside Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Kent County, MI public schools have an average math proficiency score of 43% (versus the Michigan public school average of 35%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 46% statewide average). Schools in Kent County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of Michigan public schools.
Minority enrollment is 46% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Michigan public school average of 37% (majority Black).

Best Public Schools in Kent County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Brown Elementary School
(Math: 93% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
8064 Byron Center Ave Sw
Byron Center, MI 49315
(616) 878-6200
Gr: K-4 | 438 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #22.
Caledonia Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
9770 Duncan Lake Ave Se
Caledonia, MI 49316
(616) 891-8181
Gr: K-4 | 378 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #33.
Countryside Elementary School
(Math: 87% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
8200 Eastern Ave Se
Byron Center, MI 49315
(616) 878-6900
Gr: K-4 | 426 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #44.
Ada Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
731 Ada Dr Se
Ada, MI 49301
(616) 493-8940
Gr: PK-4 | 293 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #55.
Marshall Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1756 64th St Sw
Byron Center, MI 49315
(616) 878-6300
Gr: PK-4 | 463 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #66.
Central Middle School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
5810 Ada Dr Se
Ada, MI 49301
(616) 493-8750
Gr: 7-8 | 488 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #77.
Knapp Forest Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
4243 Knapp Valley Dr Ne
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
(616) 493-8980
Gr: PK-5 | 520 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #88.
East Grand Rapids High School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2211 Lake Dr Se
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
(616) 235-7555
Gr: 9-12 | 908 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Goodwillie Environmental School
Magnet School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
8400 2 Mile Rd Ne
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 493-8633
Gr: 5-6 | 103 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Thornapple Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
6932 Bridgewater Dr Se
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 493-8920
Gr: PK-4 | 361 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #1111.
Eastern High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2200 Pettis Ave Ne
Ada, MI 49301
(616) 493-8830
Gr: 9-12 | 768 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #1212.
Valley View Elementary School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
405 Summit Ave Ne
Rockford, MI 49341
(616) 863-6366
Gr: K-5 | 336 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #1313.
Central High School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
5901 Hall St Se
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 493-8700
Gr: 9-12 | 999 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #1414.
Lakeside School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2325 Hall St Se
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
(616) 235-7553
Gr: K-5 | 453 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #1515.
East Grand Rapids Middle School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2425 Lake Dr Se
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
(616) 235-7551
Gr: 6-8 | 710 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #1616.
Pine Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
3250 Redford Dr Se
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 493-8910
Gr: PK-4 | 472 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #1717.
Byron Center West Middle School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
8654 Homerich Ave Sw
Byron Center, MI 49315
(616) 878-6500
Gr: 6-9 | 729 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #1818.
Chandler Woods Charter Academy
Charter School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
6895 Samrick Ave Ne
Belmont, MI 49306
(616) 866-6000
Gr: PK-8 | 741 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #1919.
Northern Hills Middle School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
3775 Leonard St Ne
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
(616) 493-8650
Gr: 7-8 | 515 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #2020.
City High Middle School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1720 Plainfield Ave Ne
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
(616) 819-2380
Gr: 7-12 | 955 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #2121.
Rockford Spanish Immersion
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
3900 Kroes St Ne
Rockford, MI 49341
(616) 863-6374
Gr: K-5 | 307 students Student-teacher ratio: 34:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #2222.
Northern High School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
3801 Leonard St Ne
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
(616) 493-8600
Gr: 9-12 | 1,088 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #2323.
West Michigan Aviation Academy
Charter School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
5363 44th St Se
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
(616) 446-8886
Gr: 9-12 | 600 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #2424.
Alto Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
6150 Bancroft Ave Se
Alto, MI 49302
(616) 987-2600
Gr: PK-5 | 417 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #2525.
Emmons Lake Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
8950 Kraft Ave Se
Caledonia, MI 49316
(616) 528-8100
Gr: K-4 | 377 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #2626.
Eastern Middle School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2200 Pettis Ave Ne
Ada, MI 49301
(616) 493-8850
Gr: 6-8 | 528 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #2727.
Dutton Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
3820 68th St Se
Caledonia, MI 49316
(616) 698-8982
Gr: PK-4 | 317 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #2828.
Cross Creek Charter Academy
Charter School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
7701 Kalamazoo Ave Se
Byron Center, MI 49315
(616) 656-4000
Gr: K-8 | 809 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #2929.
Kettle Lake Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
8451 Garbow Dr Se
Alto, MI 49302
(616) 868-6113
Gr: K-4 | 349 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #3030.
Breton Downs School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2500 Boston St Se
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
(616) 235-7552
Gr: PK-5 | 451 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #31 - 3331. - 33.
Crestwood Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6350 Courtland Dr Ne
Rockford, MI 49341
(616) 863-6346
Gr: K-5 | 469 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #31 - 3331. - 33.
Meadow Brook Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1450 Forest Hill Ave Se
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 493-8740
Gr: K-4 | 431 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #31 - 3331. - 33.
Paris Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4690 Paris Ridge Ave Se
Caledonia, MI 49316
(616) 891-7033
Gr: K-4 | 303 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #3434.
Wealthy School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1961 Lake Dr Se
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
(616) 235-7550
Gr: K-5 | 462 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #35 - 3635. - 36.
Central Woodlands 56 School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
400 Alta Dale Ave Se
Ada, MI 49301
(616) 493-8790
Gr: 5-6 | 462 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Show 100 more public schools in Kent County, MI (out of 225 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Kent County, MI?
How many public schools are located in Kent County?
237 public schools are located in Kent County.
What percentage of students in Kent County go to public school?
85% of all K-12 students in Kent County are educated in public schools (compared to the MI state average of 91%).
What is the racial composition of students in Kent County?
Kent County public schools minority enrollment is 46% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Michigan public schools average of 37% (majority Black).
Which public schools in Kent County are often viewed compared to one another?

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