Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Grand Haven

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
Grand Theatre (1)Photo: Gpwitteveen · CC BY-SA 3.0
A
Schools in Grand Haven · Grand Haven Area Public Schools

Grand Haven’s public schools outscore 89% of Michigan districts

In Grand Haven, 53% of tested students are proficient in math, above the Michigan average (34%). The grade covers the public school district serving Grand Haven, 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.

#90of 699 Michigan townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Michigan state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% 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
67%
▲ 22 pts vs MI 45%
2021–22
Math proficiency
53%
▲ 19 pts vs MI 34%
2021–22
Graduate on time
86%
▲ 4 pts vs MI 82%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.2K
▲ 4% vs MI $16.5K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.2
MI 16.5 · smaller classes
Schools in town
8
3,903 students on the public path
In brief

Grand Haven’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 1117 Michigan towns with household incomes within a quarter of Grand Haven’s, its schools beat 97%, higher than their 89% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 67% and math 53% in spring 2022, against 45% and 34% statewide; 86% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 82%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,223 per student, against $16,528 across Michigan (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then two middle and one high school

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 9% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Grand Haven Christian School (private) and St. Johns Lutheran School (private) are in town. Grand Haven Cyber School, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. 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 Grand Haven’s grade

A Test scoresB Graduation

A: better than 89% of Michigan school districts, #90 of 699 Michigan towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Michigan average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Michigan school districts we grade (815)Better than 89%
Lower resultsHigher results
Michigan towns with similar household incomes (1117)Better than 97%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,705 test results and a graduating class of 470 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Grand Haven’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,708 in math, 2,702 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–43 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB+ to A−
5–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressA
9–12Grand Haven High SchoolGrand Haven Area Public SchoolsA−

Grand Haven’s public schools are run by Grand Haven Area Public Schools, which also serves Ferrysburg, Grand Haven, Port Sheldon and Robinson 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.

Grand Haven Area Public SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 13 schools · 5,171 students, down 9% since 2020–21 · 15.2 per teacher (MI 16.5)
$17,223MI $16,528 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading67%
State average 45.4% · 2702 students tested
Math53%
State average 33.6% · 2708 students tested

Grand Haven vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Michigan towns that share Grand Haven’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Grand HavenAGrand Haven Area
Spring LakeA+Spring Lake
Spring Lake TownshipASpring Lake PK–12 · Grand Haven Area PK–12
FerrysburgAGrand Haven Area

2 of the 3 neighbors share Grand Haven Area with Grand Haven, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Grand Haven

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 Grand Havenby address
Griffin Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
A−
308 students14:1Rate it →
Mary A White School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
A−
260 students14:1Rate it →
Ferry School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
B+
232 students11:1Rate it →
White Pines Intermediate School
Middle · Grades 5–8
A
740 students15:1Rate it →
Lakeshore Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
A
733 students16:1Rate it →
Also serving Grand Havenin other towns
Grand Haven High School
High · Grades 9–12
A−
1,630 students18:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Central High School
High · Grades 9–12
C−
Alternative Education
89 students10:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Grand Havennot counted as local schools
Grand Haven Cyber School
Grades K–12
B
OnlineAlternative Education
106 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Grand Haven Christian School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
454 students17:1Rate it →
St. Johns Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
59 students12:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Career Development School).

Questions about Grand Haven’s schools

Are Grand Haven’s schools good?

By Michigan’s own tests, yes: the public schools Grand Haven children attend outscore 89% of Michigan’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #90 of 699 Michigan towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 97%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Grand Haven in?

Grand Haven Area Public Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 5,171 students in 13 schools (2024–25).

Where do Grand Haven kids go to high school?

Grand Haven High School, with 1,630 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Grand Haven’s graduation rate?

86% of the class of 2023 in Grand Haven Area Public Schools graduated in four years, against 82% across Michigan.

How much does Grand Haven spend per student?

$17,223 in Grand Haven Area Public Schools (FY2024), against $16,528 across Michigan. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Grand Haven?

Yes: Grand Haven Christian School (religious, grades PK–8, 454 students) and St. Johns Lutheran School (religious, grades PK–8, 59 students).

Parents talk

What Grand Haven families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Grand Haven → 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.