Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Big Rapids

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
B

Big Rapids Public Schools

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 6 towns

Serves Big Rapids, Big Rapids Township, Green Township, Colfax Township, Grant Township and Norwich Township, and parts of Martiny Township, Barton Township, Goodwell Township and Monroe Township.

Big Rapids’ School Grade B better than 59% of Michigan school districts

Students
2,405
Schools
6
Spent per student
$13,916
MI $16,528
Students per teacher
19:1
Free or reduced lunch
47%
Debt
$23.6M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Big Rapids Public Schools

  • Its letter, B: results better than 59% of Michigan districts
  • Reading proficiency 8 pts above the state
  • Graduation rate 10 pts below the state
  • Spends 16% less per student than the MI average
  • 19 students per teacher
  • Enrollment up 17.8% since 2020–21
  • Debt of $23.6M, about $9,824 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

B: better than 59% of the 815 Michigan school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math well above the state, 2021–22
A−
GraduationFour-year graduation well below the state, class of 2023
C−
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
BBig Rapids 8,623BBig Rapids Township 4,096BGreen Township 3,408B−Colfax Township 2,036Grant Township 737Norwich Township 561

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Big Rapids. Grade by grade →

PK–43 elementary schoolsThis district
5–8Big Rapids Middle SchoolThis district
9–12Big Rapids High SchoolThis district

Test scores vs. MI

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency37%
State average 33.6% · 1,072 students tested
Reading / language arts53%
State average 45.4% · 1,071 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)70–74%
State average 81.8% · 195 in the class

96% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$13,916 per student · 16% below MI
Spending
Classroom instruction 60%Support & administration 35%Other 5%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 23%State 65%Federal 12%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
2,042’20
2,188’21
2,350’22
2,376’23
2,405’24

Up 17.8% since 2020–21.

Students
White 87%Two or more races 6%Black 3%Hispanic 3%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Asian <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

6 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Michigan’s other public schools.

Brookside Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Big Rapids
B−
336 students18:1
Eastwood Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Big Rapids
209 students16:1
Riverview Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–4 · Big Rapids
A+
346 students18:1
Big Rapids Virtual School
Other · Grades K–12 · Big Rapids
C−
115 students
Big Rapids Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Big Rapids
B
644 students21:1
Big Rapids High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Big Rapids
B+
755 students20:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

White Cloud Public SchoolsBig Prairie Township, Everett Township, Merrill Township
$13,748per student
Chippewa Hills School DistrictChippewa Township, Morton Township, Sheridan Township
$14,701per student
Morley Stanwood Community SchoolsAustin Township, Big Prairie Township, Mecosta Township
$16,537per student
Reed City Area Public SchoolsChase Township, Hersey Township, Richmond Township
$14,153per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Michigan.