Forest Hills Public Schools

Public school district · Kent County · Michigan · NCES district ID 2614610

Forest Hills Public Schools spent $14,433 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, more than 56% of the other Michigan districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 (median $14,214). Its 18 schools enrolled 8,797 students in 2024-25; 53.0% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $14,583 per student, up 1.0% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 99% or more (Michigan: 81.8%).

NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method

Spending per student among Michigan districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Forest Hills Public Schools in enrollment (7,970 to 10,023 students) and Forest Hills Public Schools itself.

Current spending per student, Michigan districts closest in size to Forest Hills Public Schools, FY23Wayne-Westland Community $21,347; Lansing $19,256; Farmington $17,604; L'Anse Creuse Public Schools $15,114; Kentwood Public Schools $14,957; Huron Valley Schools $14,850; Traverse City Area Public Schools $14,801; Forest Hills Public Schools $14,433; Portage Public Schools $13,765; South Lyon Community Schools $13,496; State median, 1,000+ students $14,214.10k12.5k15k17.5k20k22.5kWayne-Westland Community$21,347Lansing$19,256Farmington$17,604L'Anse Creuse Public Scho…$15,114Kentwood Public Schools$14,957Huron Valley Schools$14,850Traverse City Area Public Scho…$14,801Forest Hills Public Schools$14,433Portage Public Schools$13,765South Lyon Community Schools$13,496State median, 1,000+ students $14,214
Current spending per student, Michigan districts closest in size to Forest Hills Public Schools, FY23Wayne-Westland Community $21,347; Lansing $19,256; Farmington $17,604; L'Anse Creuse Public Schools $15,114; Kentwood Public Schools $14,957; Huron Valley Schools $14,850; Traverse City Area Public Schools $14,801; Forest Hills Public Schools $14,433; Portage Public Schools $13,765; South Lyon Community Schools $13,496; State median, 1,000+ students $14,214.10k12.5k15k17.5k20k22.5kWayne-Westland Community$21,347Lansing$19,256Farmington$17,604L'Anse Creuse Public Schools$15,114Kentwood Public Schools$14,957Huron Valley Schools$14,850Traverse City Area Public Schools$14,801Forest Hills Public Schools$14,433Portage Public Schools$13,765South Lyon Community Schools$13,496State median, 1,000+ students $14,214
Current spending per student, Michigan districts closest in size to Forest Hills Public Schools, FY23Wayne-Westland Community $21,347; Lansing $19,256; Farmington $17,604; L'Anse Creuse Public Schools $15,114; Kentwood Public Schools $14,957; Huron Valley Schools $14,850; Traverse City Area Public Schools $14,801; Forest Hills Public Schools $14,433; Portage Public Schools $13,765; South Lyon Community Schools $13,496; State median, 1,000+ students $14,214.10k15k20k22.5kWayne-Westland Community$21,347Lansing$19,256Farmington$17,604L'Anse Creuse Public Schools$15,114Kentwood Public Schools$14,957Huron Valley Schools$14,850Traverse City Area Public Schools$14,801Forest Hills Public Schools$14,433Portage Public Schools$13,765South Lyon Community Schools$13,496State median, 1,000+ students $14,214
Current spending per student, Michigan districts closest in size to Forest Hills Public Schools, FY23Wayne-Westland Community $21,347; Lansing $19,256; Farmington $17,604; L'Anse Creuse Public Schools $15,114; Kentwood Public Schools $14,957; Huron Valley Schools $14,850; Traverse City Area Public Schools $14,801; Forest Hills Public Schools $14,433; Portage Public Schools $13,765; South Lyon Community Schools $13,496; State median, 1,000+ students $14,214.10k15k20k22.5kWayne-Westland Community$21,347Lansing$19,256Farmington$17,604L'Anse Creuse Public Schools$15,114Kentwood Public Schools$14,957Huron Valley Schools$14,850Traverse City Area Public Schools$14,801Forest Hills Public Schools$14,433Portage Public Schools$13,765South Lyon Community Schools$13,496State median, 1,000+ students $14,214

Where the money came from

$169,864,000 in revenue: 53.0% state, 42.9% local and 4.2% federal. Total spending including $26,067,000 of capital outlay was $173,197,000, or $18,824 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Forest Hills Public Schools revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $89,956,000; Local $72,837,000; Federal $7,071,000; total $169,864,000.
  • State$89,956,000 53%
  • Local$72,837,000 43%
  • Federal$7,071,000 4%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 347 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment fell from 2022-23 to 2024-25

9,156 students in 2022-23, 9,022 students in 2023-24, 8,797 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Forest Hills Public Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 9,156, 2023-24: 9,022, 2024-25: 8,79702.5k5k7.5k10k2022-239,1562023-249,0222024-258,797
Forest Hills Public Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 9,156, 2023-24: 9,022, 2024-25: 8,79702.5k5k7.5k10k2022-239,1562023-249,0222024-258,797
Forest Hills Public Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 9,156, 2023-24: 9,022, 2024-25: 8,79702.5k5k7.5k10k2022-239,1562023-249,0222024-258,797
Forest Hills Public Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 9,156, 2023-24: 9,022, 2024-25: 8,79702.5k5k7.5k10k2022-239,1562023-249,0222024-258,797

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-239,156495.218.5
2023-249,022515.317.5
2024-258,797517.717.0

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$38,946,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $4,233 per student

Forest Hills Public Schools booked $38,946,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 510 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $76,389 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 94 in 100 Michigan districts with a figure (state median $62,387, 536 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Michigan teacher salary at $65,198 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$35,445,00091.0%
Special education$3,500,0009.0%
Other programs$1,0000.0%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $3,675 in 2018-19, $3,690 in 2019-20, $3,844 in 2020-21, $4,011 in 2021-22, $4,233 in 2022-23.

Forest Hills Public Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,675, 2019-20: $3,690, 2020-21: $3,844, 2021-22: $4,011, 2022-23: $4,23302k4k6k2018-19$3,6752019-20$3,6902020-21$3,8442021-22$4,0112022-23$4,233
Forest Hills Public Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,675, 2019-20: $3,690, 2020-21: $3,844, 2021-22: $4,011, 2022-23: $4,23302k4k6k2018-19$3,6752019-20$3,6902020-21$3,8442021-22$4,0112022-23$4,233
Forest Hills Public Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,675, 2019-20: $3,690, 2020-21: $3,844, 2021-22: $4,011, 2022-23: $4,23302k4k6k2018-19$3,6752019-20$3,6902020-21$3,8442021-22$4,0112022-23$4,233
Forest Hills Public Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,675, 2019-20: $3,690, 2020-21: $3,844, 2021-22: $4,011, 2022-23: $4,23302k4k6k2018-19$3,6752019-20$3,6902020-21$3,8442021-22$4,0112022-23$4,233

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Forest Hills Public Schools scored proficient or above: 73% in reading and 67% in math, against 44% in reading and 34% in math across Michigan. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Michigan, not across states. Where a state published results by grade only, the grades tested are combined, weighted by the students tested in each.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtMichiganStudents tested
Reading and language arts73%44%4,164
Math67%34%4,164

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

99% or more of the 768 students in Forest Hills Public Schools' class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 81.8% across Michigan. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtMichigan
Four-year graduation rate99% or more81.8%
Students in the class768115,301

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

8 elementary schools, 3,318 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Knapp Forest Elementary School52017.85.0%Not Title I
Pine Ridge Elementary School47217.78.1%Not Title I
Ada Vista Elementary School44617.76.5%Not Title I
Orchard View Elementary School43915.020.5%Targeted program
Meadow Brook Elementary School43114.824.6%Targeted program
Thornapple Elementary School36116.413.3%Not Title I
Collins Elementary School35618.414.9%Targeted program
Ada Elementary School29311.910.2%Targeted program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

6 middle schools, 2,616 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Eastern Middle School52818.112.1%Eligible, no program
Northern Trails 56 School52017.716.3%Targeted program
Northern Hills Middle School51518.014.2%Eligible, no program
Central Middle School48819.511.3%Not Title I
Central Woodlands 56 School46218.210.0%Eligible, no program
Goodwillie Environmental School10324.25.8%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

4 high schools, 2,863 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Northern High School1,08815.515.9%Eligible, no program
Central High School99918.212.6%Not Title I
Eastern High School76817.712.4%Not Title I
Forest Hills Transition Center83.723.8%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

Contact Forest Hills Public Schools

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Forest Hills Public Schools

  1. Michigan districts by spending per studentForest Hills Public Schools ranks 152 of 347 Michigan districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($14,433).#152 of 347
  2. Every school district in MichiganForest Hills Public Schools is the number 18 by size of 892 Michigan districts, with 9,201 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#18 of 892
  3. Kentwood Public SchoolsThe next larger Michigan district: 9,357 students in fall 2022, $14,957 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$14,957
  4. Farmington Public School DistrictThe next smaller Michigan district: 9,041 students in fall 2022, $17,604 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$17,604
  5. Compare Forest Hills Public Schools with Kentwood Public SchoolsEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Northern High School, its largest high school1,088 students in 2024-25, 15.5 per teacher.1,088
  7. Teacher salary spending across MichiganForest Hills Public Schools spent $76,389 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $62,387); spending, not a salary.$76,389
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Forest Hills Public Schools

  1. How many schools and students are in Forest Hills Public Schools?
    18 schools were open in 2024-25 (8 elementary, 6 middle, 4 high), enrolling 8,797 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Forest Hills Public Schools spend per student?
    $14,433 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Michigan median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $14,214 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $14,583 per student, up 1.0% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Forest Hills Public Schools' money come from?
    $169,864,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 53.0% state, 42.9% local and 4.2% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Forest Hills Public Schools live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 368 of the 10,883 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 3.4%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Forest Hills Public Schools spend on teacher salaries?
    $38,946,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $4,233 per student. Divided by the 510 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $76,389 per teacher, more than 94 in 100 Michigan districts (state median $62,387). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Michigan teacher salary at $65,198 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in Forest Hills Public Schools do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Forest Hills Public Schools scored proficient or above: 73% in reading and 67% in math, against 44% in reading and 34% in math across Michigan. Michigan's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in Forest Hills Public Schools?
    99% or more of the 768 students in Forest Hills Public Schools' class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 81.8% across Michigan. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is Forest Hills Public Schools' NCES district ID?
    2614610. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25

Compiled from official source data by .