Can I use Kent County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Kent County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Kent County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Kent County?

Start with the 234 listed public schools and 43 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Kent County Schools & Education

Name: Kent County, Michigan Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Kent County, Michigan

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

39/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

86.2%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

86.2%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 82.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,345

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,394

School Score

39/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 35/100

State Score Position

#29

of 83 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Kent County

Measured School Summary

Kent County faces educational challenges with a school score of 39/100 and a graduation rate of 86.2%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $7,345 per pupil, Kent County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 10% above the Michigan average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Kent County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

234 public schools and 43 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

39/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #29 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.

Completion

86.2%

3.7 pts above the state average

Funding context

$7,345

roughly matches the state average

School coverage

234

43 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Kent County has 234 public schools across 43 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Kent County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Large multi-district county

Kent County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#29

of 83 Michigan counties with school score data. The county score is 4 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Grand Rapids Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

13,657 students

Elementary 25Middle 8High 14Other 4

51 listed schools in this county slice.

Kentwood Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

9,260 students

Elementary 10Middle 3High 2Other 1

16 listed schools in this county slice.

Forest Hills Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

9,156 students

Elementary 8Middle 6High 4Other 0

18 listed schools in this county slice.

Rockford Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

7,654 students

Elementary 9Middle 2High 3Other 0

14 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Grand Rapids Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 51 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Kent County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Kent County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Kent County, Michigan

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Robust Education Hub in West Michigan

Kent County supports a massive educational network with 234 public schools serving 98,131 students across 43 different districts. The infrastructure includes 113 elementary, 40 middle, and 61 high schools, providing a diverse range of learning environments.

Diverse Districts and Charter Options

Grand Rapids Public Schools leads the county with 51 schools and 13,657 students, followed by large suburban districts like Forest Hills and Kentwood. Charter schools play a notable role here, with 26 institutions representing 11.1% of all public schools.

From Urban Centers to Suburban Sprawl

Most students attend schools in suburban (104) or city (86) settings, with an average school size of 429 students. Large-scale campuses define the experience for many, such as East Kentwood High School, which serves over 2,000 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

234

in Kent County

Reported Enrollment

98,131

234 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

11% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary113

Middle40

High61

Other20

43 School Districts in Kent County

Grand Rapids Public Schools

Kentwood Public Schools

Forest Hills Public Schools

Rockford Public Schools

Grandville Public Schools

Caledonia Community Schools

Byron Center Public Schools

Wyoming Public Schools

Lowell Area Schools

Cedar Springs Public Schools

7 schools

3,186 students

234 Public Schools in Kent County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 12 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 234 matching schools

Public schools in Kent County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
East Kentwood High School	Profile	Kentwood Public Schools	GRAND RAPIDS, 49508Suburb: Large	10–12	High	2,010
Rockford High School	Profile	Rockford Public Schools	ROCKFORD, 49341Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,819
Grandville High School	Profile	Grandville Public Schools	GRANDVILLE, 49418Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,767
Caledonia High School	Profile	Caledonia Community Schools	CALEDONIA, 49316Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,464
Byron Center High School	Profile	Byron Center Public Schools	BYRON CENTER, 49315Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,339
Wyoming High School	Profile	Wyoming Public Schools	WYOMING, 49509Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,284
PrepNet Virtual Academy	Profile	PrepNet Virtual Academy	GRAND RAPIDS, 49512City: Small	KG–12	CharterVirtual	1,220
Northern High School	Profile	Forest Hills Public Schools	GRAND RAPIDS, 49525Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,134
Lowell Senior High School	Profile	Lowell Area Schools	LOWELL, 49331Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,099
Northview High School	Profile	Northview Public Schools	GRAND RAPIDS, 49525Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,092
Central High School	Profile	Forest Hills Public Schools	GRAND RAPIDS, 49546Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,053
Cedar Springs High School	Profile	Cedar Springs Public Schools	CEDAR SPRINGS, 49319Town: Fringe	9–12	High	1,049
Kenowa Hills High School	Record	Kenowa Hills Public Schools	GRAND RAPIDS, 49544Suburb: Large	9–12	High	933
Union High School	Record	Grand Rapids Public Schools	GRAND RAPIDS, 49504City: Midsize	9–12	High	922
East Grand Rapids High School	Record	East Grand Rapids Public Schools	GRAND RAPIDS, 49506Suburb: Large	9–12	High	914
City MiddleHigh	Record	Grand Rapids Public Schools	GRAND RAPIDS, 49505City: Midsize	7–12	High	908
North Rockford Middle School	Record	Rockford Public Schools	ROCKFORD, 49341Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	885
Sparta Senior High School	Record	Sparta Area Schools	SPARTA, 49345Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	851
Grandville Middle School	Record	Grandville Public Schools	GRANDVILLE, 49418Suburb: Large	3–8	Middle	830
Pinewood Middle School	Record	Kentwood Public Schools	GRAND RAPIDS, 49508Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	809

East Kentwood High School

Kentwood Public Schools

GRAND RAPIDS, 49508 / Suburb: Large

Profile10–12High2,010 students

Rockford High School

Rockford Public Schools

ROCKFORD, 49341 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,819 students

Grandville High School

Grandville Public Schools

GRANDVILLE, 49418 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,767 students

Caledonia High School

Caledonia Community Schools

CALEDONIA, 49316 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,464 students

Byron Center High School

Byron Center Public Schools

BYRON CENTER, 49315 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,339 students

Wyoming High School

Wyoming Public Schools

WYOMING, 49509 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,284 students

PrepNet Virtual Academy

GRAND RAPIDS, 49512 / City: Small

ProfileKG–12CharterVirtual1,220 students

Northern High School

Forest Hills Public Schools

GRAND RAPIDS, 49525 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,134 students

Lowell Senior High School

Lowell Area Schools

LOWELL, 49331 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,099 students

Northview High School

Northview Public Schools

GRAND RAPIDS, 49525 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,092 students

Central High School

Forest Hills Public Schools

GRAND RAPIDS, 49546 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,053 students

Cedar Springs High School

Cedar Springs Public Schools

CEDAR SPRINGS, 49319 / Town: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,049 students

Kenowa Hills High School

Kenowa Hills Public Schools

GRAND RAPIDS, 49544 / Suburb: Large

Record9–12High933 students

Union High School

Grand Rapids Public Schools

GRAND RAPIDS, 49504 / City: Midsize

Record9–12High922 students

East Grand Rapids High School

East Grand Rapids Public Schools

GRAND RAPIDS, 49506 / Suburb: Large

Record9–12High914 students

City MiddleHigh

Grand Rapids Public Schools

GRAND RAPIDS, 49505 / City: Midsize

Record7–12High908 students

North Rockford Middle School

Rockford Public Schools

ROCKFORD, 49341 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle885 students

Sparta Senior High School

Sparta Area Schools

SPARTA, 49345 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High851 students

Grandville Middle School

Grandville Public Schools

GRANDVILLE, 49418 / Suburb: Large

Record3–8Middle830 students

Pinewood Middle School

Kentwood Public Schools

GRAND RAPIDS, 49508 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle809 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,345

State avg $7,394

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Kent County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Michigan counties have the highest graduation rates?

Alcona County (95.0%), Alger County (95.0%), and Schoolcraft County (95.0%) currently lead Michigan among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Michigan?

Across Michigan counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,394. The highest current county values are Keweenaw County ($18,000), Lake County ($10,369), and Leelanau County ($9,877). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Kent County?

Kent County has a school score of 39/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Kent County?

The high school graduation rate in Kent County is 86.2%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Kent County spend per student?

Kent County spends $7,345 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Kent County, Michigan — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Kent County, Michigan?

What are the major school districts in Kent County, Michigan?

What is the school experience like in Kent County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Newaygo County

Michigan

0 pts

39/100

School score

Benzie County

Michigan

+0 pts

39/100

School score

Mackinac County

Michigan

+0 pts

39/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

Explore more data for Kent County

Property Tax Cost of Living Crime Rate Income Health Disaster Risk Water Quality Weather County Score