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Cascade Township HallPhoto: rossograph · CC BY-SA 4.0
A+
Schools in Cascade Township · Forest Hills Public Schools, Caledonia Community Schools

Cascade Township’s public schools outscore 97% of Michigan districts

65% of students in Cascade Township’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Michigan average (34%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Cascade Township, 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.

#8of 699 Michigan townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 99% 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
72%
▲ 27 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
65%
▲ 31 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
99–100%
▲ 17–18 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.6K
▼ 12% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024 · Forest Hills
Students per teacher
17.2
MI 16.5 · larger classes
Schools in town
3
7,353 students on the public path
In brief

Cascade Township’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 72% and math 65% across both districts in spring 2022, against 45% and 34% statewide; 99–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Forest Hills spends $14,583 per student and Caledonia $15,092, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

West Michigan Aviation Academy is 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 Cascade Township’s grade

A+ Test scoresA+ Graduation

A+: better than 97% of Michigan school districts, #8 of 699 Michigan towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Michigan average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 97%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (174)Better than 94%
Towns in Kent County (21)Better than 86%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 7,205 test results and a graduating class of 768 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 99% of Cascade Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (7,212 in math, 7,197 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–42 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressA to A+
7–84 middle schoolsDepends on your addressA to A+
9–124 high schoolsDepends on your addressA to A+

Cascade Township runs its own schools through grade 12 (Forest Hills Public Schools). From grade PK, students attend the Caledonia Community Schools, shared with Bowne, Caledonia, Caledonia and Gaines. Its middle school is in Caledonia. Parts of Cascade Township (13% of its land) are served by Lowell Area Schools instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Cascade Township

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

Forest Hills Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 18 schools · 8,797 students, down 6% since 2020–21 · 17.0 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$14,583MI $16,528 · FY2024
A+
Caledonia Community SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 9 schools · 4,564 students, down 1% since 2020–21 · 17.7 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$15,092MI $16,528 · FY2024
A+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Forest Hills Public Schools74%
State average 45.4% · 4910 students tested
Math · PK–12, Forest Hills Public Schools66%
State average 33.6% · 4913 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Caledonia Community Schools69%
State average 45.4% · 2287 students tested
Math · PK–12, Caledonia Community Schools62%
State average 33.6% · 2299 students tested

Cascade Township vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Michigan towns that share Cascade Township’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Cascade TownshipA+Forest Hills PK–12 · Caledonia PK–12
AdaA+Forest Hills PK–12 · Lowell Area Schools PK–12
KentwoodBKentwood
CaledoniaA+Caledonia
LowellALowell Area Schools
Grand RapidsA+Forest Hills

2 of the 5 neighbors share Forest Hills with Cascade Township for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Cascade Township

11 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 Cascade Townshipby address
Pine Ridge Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Grand Rapids
A+
472 students18:1Rate it →
Thornapple Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Grand Rapids
A
361 students16:1Rate it →
Also serving Cascade Townshipin other towns
Eastern Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Ada
A+
528 students18:1Rate it →
Duncan Lake Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Caledonia
A
696 students19:1Rate it →
Northern Hills Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Grand Rapids
A+
515 students18:1Rate it →
Central Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Ada
A+
488 students20:1Rate it →
Caledonia High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Caledonia
A
1,438 students18:1Rate it →
Northern High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Grand Rapids
A
1,088 students15:1Rate it →
Central High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Grand Rapids
A+
999 students18:1Rate it →
Eastern High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Ada
A+
768 students18:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
West Michigan Aviation Academy
High · Grades 9–12 · Grand Rapids
A
Charter
600 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Cascade Township’s schools

Are Cascade Township’s schools good?

By Michigan’s own tests, yes: the public schools Cascade Township children attend outscore 97% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A+ Schools grade, #8 of 699 Michigan towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 94%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Cascade Township in?

Two districts: Forest Hills Public Schools runs grades PK–12, and Caledonia Community Schools runs grades PK–12, shared with Bowne, Caledonia, Caledonia and Gaines.

Where do Cascade Township kids go to high school?

One of 4 high schools, depending on your address: Caledonia High School, Northern High School, Central High School and Eastern High School.

What is Cascade Township’s graduation rate?

99–100% of the class of 2023 in Forest Hills Public Schools graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Cascade Township spend per student?

$14,583 in Forest Hills Public Schools and $15,092 in Caledonia Community Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Cascade Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Cascade Township → 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.