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City Hall, Grand Rapids, MN-02Photo: Myotus · CC BY 4.0
B+
Schools in Grand Rapids · Grand Rapids Public School District

Grand Rapids’s public schools outscore 69% of Minnesota districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Grand 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 Minnesota, not nationally.

#138of 274 Minnesota townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Minnesota state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% 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
54%
▲ 3 pts vs MN 51%
2021–22
Math proficiency
46%
▲ 1 pts vs MN 45%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90%
▲ 7 pts vs MN 83%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.0K
▼ 12% vs MN $17.1K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.0
MN 14.8 · larger classes
Schools in town
9
3,106 students on the public path
In brief

Grand Rapids’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 54% and math 46% in spring 2022, against 51% and 45% statewide; 90% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 83%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,971 per student, against $17,091 across Minnesota (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

From grade 3 the district’s path is East Rapids Elementary, then Robert J. Elkington Middle School, then Grand Rapids Senior High. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Joseph's Catholic School (private) 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 Grand Rapids’s grade

B+ Test scoresB Graduation

B+: better than 69% of Minnesota school districts, #138 of 274 Minnesota towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Minnesota average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Minnesota school districts we grade (502)Better than 69%
Lower resultsHigher results
Minnesota towns with similar household incomes (905)Better than 72%
BA−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,950 test results and a graduating class of 363 could put Grand Rapids anywhere from B to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Grand Rapids’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,960 in math, 1,941 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–2West Rapids ElementaryGrand Rapids Public School DistrictB
3–5East Rapids ElementaryGrand Rapids Public School DistrictA−
6–8Robert J. Elkington Middle SchoolGrand Rapids Public School DistrictB+
9–12Grand Rapids Senior HighGrand Rapids Public School DistrictA−

Grand Rapids’s public schools are run by Grand Rapids Public School District. Parts of Grand Rapids (15% of its land) are served by Greenway Public instead. 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 Rapids Public School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 11 schools · 3,972 students · 17.0 per teacher (MN 14.8)
$14,971MN $17,091 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading54%
State average 51.1% · 1941 students tested
Math46%
State average 44.8% · 1960 students tested

Grand Rapids vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Minnesota towns that share Grand Rapids’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Grand RapidsB+Grand Rapids Public
ColeraineB+Greenway Public
La Prairie—Greenway Public
HarrisB+Grand Rapids Public
CohassetB+Grand Rapids Public
Arbo—Grand Rapids Public

3 of the 5 neighbors share Grand Rapids Public with Grand Rapids, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Grand Rapids

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

District schools in Grand Rapidsby address
West Rapids Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–2
B
612 students17:1Rate it →
East Rapids Elementary
Elementary · Grades 3–5
A−
639 students16:1Rate it →
Robert J. Elkington Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B+
764 students17:1Rate it →
Grand Rapids Senior High
High · Grades 9–12
A−
1,091 students19:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Grand Rapids Early Childhood Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
Special Education
63 students10:1Rate it →
Middle Area Learning Center
Middle · Grades 5–8
D−
Alternative Education
54 studentsRate it →
Grand Rapids Area Learning Center
High · Grades 8–12
D
Alternative Education
129 students27:1Rate it →
Itaskin Education Center
Grades 4–12
D
Alternative Education
39 students6:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Joseph's Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
Private · Catholic
163 students17:1Rate it →

Left off: 3 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Infinity: Minnesota Digital Academy, Grand Rapids Virtual Elementary and Grand Rapids Area Virtual Secondary).

Questions about Grand Rapids’s schools

Are Grand Rapids’s schools good?

By Minnesota’s own tests, yes: the public schools Grand Rapids children attend outscore 69% of Minnesota’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #138 of 274 Minnesota towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 72%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Grand Rapids in?

Grand Rapids Public School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 3,972 students in 11 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Grand Rapids are served by Greenway Public.

Where do Grand Rapids kids go to high school?

Grand Rapids Senior High, with 1,091 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Grand Rapids’s graduation rate?

90% of the class of 2023 in Grand Rapids Public School District graduated in four years, against 83% across Minnesota.

How much does Grand Rapids spend per student?

$14,971 in Grand Rapids Public School District (FY2024), against $17,091 across Minnesota. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Grand Rapids?

Yes: St. Joseph's Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–6, 163 students).

Parents talk

What Grand Rapids families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Grand 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 Minnesota. Stars are from neighbors.