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
Big Rapids, Michigan 2009Photo: brewbooks · CC BY-SA 2.0
B
Schools in Big Rapids · Big Rapids Public Schools

Big Rapids’s public schools outscore 59% of Michigan districts

On the state reading tests, 53% of Big Rapids’s students scored proficient, above the Michigan average (45%). The grade covers the public school district serving Big Rapids, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Michigan, not nationally.

#415of 699 Michigan townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
53%
▲ 8 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
37%
▲ 3 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
70–74%
▼ 8–12 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.9K
▼ 16% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
19.2
MI 16.5 · larger classes
Schools in town
9
2,290 students on the public path
In brief

Big Rapids’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 418 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Big Rapids’s, its schools beat 69%, higher than their 59% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 53% and math 37% in spring 2022, against 45% and 34% statewide; 70–74% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,916 per student, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 5 the district’s path is Big Rapids Middle School, then Big Rapids High School. Enrollment is up 18% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Crossroads Charter Academy K5, Crossroads Charter Academy, St. Mary Catholic School (private) and St. Peters Lutheran School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Big Rapids’s grade

A− Test scoresC− Graduation

B: better than 59% of Michigan school districts, #415 of 699 Michigan towns. Test scores are above the Michigan average; graduation is below it.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 59%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (418)Better than 69%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,072 test results and a graduating class of 195 could put Big Rapids anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Big Rapids’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,072 in math, 1,071 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Big Rapids, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–43 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A+
5–8Big Rapids Middle SchoolBig Rapids Public SchoolsB
9–12Big Rapids High SchoolBig Rapids Public SchoolsB+

Big Rapids’s public schools are run by Big Rapids Public Schools, which also serves Big Rapids, Colfax, Grant and Green and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Big Rapids Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 2,405 students, up 18% since 2020–21 · 19.2 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$13,916MI $16,528 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading53%
State average 45.4% · 1071 students tested
Math37%
State average 33.6% · 1072 students tested

Big Rapids vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Michigan towns that share Big Rapids’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Big RapidsBBig Rapids

Every school in Big Rapids

10 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Michigan’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Big Rapidsby address
Brookside Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
B−
336 students18:1Rate it →
Eastwood Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–K
209 students16:1Rate it →
Riverview Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–4
A+
346 students18:1Rate it →
Big Rapids Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
B
644 students21:1Rate it →
Also serving Big Rapidsin other towns
Big Rapids High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
755 students20:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Crossroads Charter Academy
Grades K–12
B
Charter
117 students10:1Rate it →
Crossroads Charter Academy K5
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
Charter
103 students14:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Big Rapidsrun by other districts or the state
MecostaOsceola Education Center
Grades PK–12
B+
Special Education
121 students11:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Mary Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
127 students18:1Rate it →
St. Peters Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
97 students19:1Rate it →

Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (MecostaOsceola Career Center and EarlyOn).

Questions about Big Rapids’s schools

Are Big Rapids’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Michigan: the public schools Big Rapids children attend outscore 59% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #415 of 699 Michigan towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 69%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Big Rapids in?

Big Rapids Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,405 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do Big Rapids kids go to high school?

Big Rapids High School, with 755 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Big Rapids’s graduation rate?

70–74% of the class of 2023 in Big Rapids Public Schools graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Big Rapids spend per student?

$13,916 in Big Rapids Public Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Big Rapids?

Yes: St. Mary Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 127 students) and St. Peters Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 97 students). Big Rapids also has 2 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Big Rapids families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Big Rapids → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Michigan. Stars are from neighbors.