- Enrollment
- 955
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Grand Rapids, MI
Gerald R Ford Academic Center
Federal NCES profile for Gerald R Ford Academic Center, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 261644008528
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gerald R Ford Academic Center earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 75% of Michigan schools.
- #8 of 14
- schools in Grand Rapids · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 14.2:1
- small classes for Michigan
- 87.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Gerald R Ford Academic Center has class sizes smaller than 75% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gerald R Ford Academic Center ranks #8 of 14 schools in Grand Rapids, MI.
School address
District: Grand Rapids Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261644008528 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+0 students YoY
Gerald R Ford Academic Center held near 230 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 15.5 → 13.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+0 students YoY 261644008528 · Grand Rapids, MI Other · SMALL · TRAD
213 enr · 14.2:1 · 87.8% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: City Middlehigh (955 students)
Gerald R Ford Academic Center held near 230 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 15.5 → 13.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Gerald R Ford Academic Center in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- City Middlehig
City Middlehigh
955 students
- Union High Sch
Union High School
881 students
- Harrison Park
Harrison Park Academy
708 students
- Southwest Elem
Southwest Elementary Academia Bilingue
661 students
- Grand Rapids U
Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy
494 students
- This school 213
Gerald R Ford Academic Center
213 students
What this shows Gerald R Ford Academic Center reports 213 students on the CCD universe file.
How Gerald R Ford Academic Center compares
Gerald R Ford Academic Center held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.2:1 | ▼ 19% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 87.8% | ▲ 62% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 213 | top 74% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.2:1
Leaner classes than 55% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
213
Bigger than 21% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
87.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 62% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.2:1
students per teacher
- 19% below state mean
Top 25% in Michigan - lower ratio than 75% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
83.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,565
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $15,012
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 28 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
African American 51.2%
Hispanic or Latino 44.6%
Two or More 3.3%
White 0.9%
Largest group: African American at 51.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.8, Gerald R Ford Academic Center is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Grand Rapids Public Schools reports $17,565 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Gerald R Ford Academic Center Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Middlehigh | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Union High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Harrison Park Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southwest Elementary Academia Bilingue | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gerald R Ford Academic Center's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 881
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
- Enrollment
- 708
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
- Enrollment
- 661
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 494
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Similar other schools in Grand Rapids
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
City Middlehigh
Standard public school
955 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Harrison Park Academy
Standard public school
708 students 20.8:1 students per teacher
Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy
Standard public school
494 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center
Standard public school
287 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Hope Academy of West Michigan
Standard public school
284 students 10.1:1 students per teacher
Mulick Park Elementary School
Standard public school
264 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~213 students)
Frequently asked questions about Gerald R Ford Academic Center
How many students attend Gerald R Ford Academic Center?
Gerald R Ford Academic Center has 213 students enrolled. It is a public school in Grand Rapids, MI. CCD year-over-year: 230 (2022-23) → 230 (2023-24), nearly flat (+0).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gerald R Ford Academic Center?
The student-teacher ratio at Gerald R Ford Academic Center is 14.2:1, which is 19% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 10% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Gerald R Ford Academic Center?
87.8% of students at Gerald R Ford Academic Center are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gerald R Ford Academic Center?
The largest demographic group at Gerald R Ford Academic Center is African American at 51.2% of enrollment, in Grand Rapids, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gerald R Ford Academic Center?
Gerald R Ford Academic Center has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Gerald R Ford Academic Center rank among schools in Grand Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Gerald R Ford Academic Center ranks #8 of 14 schools in Grand Rapids, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Grand Rapids on the city page.
What other schools are in Grand Rapids Public Schools?
Besides Gerald R Ford Academic Center, Grand Rapids Public Schools also operates City Middlehigh (955 students), Union High School (881 students), and Harrison Park Academy (708 students). See the Grand Rapids Public Schools district page for the complete list.