Forest Hills Public Schools

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — 18 schools

9,201
Total Enrollment
18
Schools
$16,549
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Other
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Forest Hills Public Schools operates 18 public schools serving 9,201 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Michigan. The school portfolio breaks down into 6 elementary, 5 other, 4 high, 3 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 8,797 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Kent County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $16,549 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 42.7% local, 52.0% state, and 5.4% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $68,139 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 33/100, ranked #640 of 756 in Michigan against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 3 of 18 schools offering Advanced Placement (61 AP courses district-wide), a 526.2:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 20.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 74.6% White, 8.8% Asian, 7.0% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Forest Hills Public Schools school enrollment varies 136× across entities

Forest Hills Public Schools school enrollment ranges from 8 students (lowest) to 1,088 students (highest), a spread of 1,080 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Forest Hills Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 526:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Forest Hills Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 20.1% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Forest Hills Public Schools is typically wider than the Forest Hills Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

5.4%
Federal
52.0%
State
42.7%
Local

Funding Equity

33
Equity Score
640 / 756
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Kent County county, where this district is located.

$1,232
Studio/mo
$1,278
1 BR/mo
$1,531
2 BR/mo
$1,980
3 BR/mo
$2,189
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$68,139
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 18 schools in Forest Hills Public Schools.

White 74.6%
Hispanic or Latino 7.0%
African American 2.8%
Asian 8.8%
Multiracial 6.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

3 / 18
Schools with AP
61 AP courses total
526.2:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
20.1%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Forest Hills Public Schools

School Enrollment
Northern High School
1,088
Central High School
999
Eastern High School
768
Eastern Middle School
528
Northern Trails 56 School
520
Knapp Forest Elementary School
520
Northern Hills Middle School
515
Central Middle School
488
Pine Ridge Elementary School
472
Central Woodlands 56 School
462
Ada Vista Elementary School
446
Orchard View Elementary School
439
Meadow Brook Elementary School
431
Thornapple Elementary School
361
Collins Elementary School
356
Ada Elementary School
293
Goodwillie Environmental School
103
Forest Hills Transition Center
8

Nearby Districts in Michigan

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Utica Community Schools
25,744 students · 38 schools · $13,844/pupil
Compare vs Forest Hills Public Schools →
Dearborn City School District
20,128 students · 37 schools · $17,609/pupil
Compare vs Forest Hills Public Schools →
Ann Arbor Public Schools
17,026 students · 32 schools · $22,548/pupil
Compare vs Forest Hills Public Schools →
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
16,294 students · 25 schools · $16,462/pupil
Compare vs Forest Hills Public Schools →

Compare Forest Hills Public Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Detroit Public Schools Community District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Forest Hills Public Schools?

Forest Hills Public Schools has 18 schools, including 4 high, 3 middle, 6 elementary, 5 other. Total enrollment is 9,201 students.

How much does Forest Hills Public Schools spend per student?

Forest Hills Public Schools spends $16,549 per student. The district has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #640 in Michigan.

What is the average teacher salary in Forest Hills Public Schools?

The average teacher salary in Forest Hills Public Schools is $68,139 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Forest Hills Public Schools?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Kent County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Forest Hills Public Schools?

Forest Hills Public Schools students are 74.6% White, 8.8% Asian, 7.0% Hispanic or Latino, 2.8% African American, averaged across 18 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Forest Hills Public Schools?

Forest Hills Public Schools has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #640 out of 756 districts in Michigan. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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