- Enrollment
- 955
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Grand Rapids, MI
John Ball Park Zoo School
Federal NCES profile for John Ball Park Zoo School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 261644000893
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
John Ball Park Zoo School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Michigan schools.
- #5 of 16
- middle schools in Grand Rapids · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 29:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 25.4%
- free-lunch eligible
John Ball Park Zoo School has class sizes larger than 96% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, John Ball Park Zoo School ranks #5 of 16 middle schools in Grand Rapids, MI.
School address
District: Grand Rapids Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261644000893 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-2 students YoY
John Ball Park Zoo School held near 57 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 2.3 → 2.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-2 students YoY 261644000893 · Grand Rapids, MI Middle · SMALL · TRAD
58 enr · 29:1 · 25.4% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: City Middlehigh (955 students)
John Ball Park Zoo School held near 57 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount). Teacher FTE held 2.3 → 2.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
John Ball Park Zoo School 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 58
John Ball Park Zoo School
58 students
What this shows John Ball Park Zoo School reports 58 students on the CCD universe file.
How John Ball Park Zoo School compares
John Ball Park Zoo School 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 | 29:1 | ▲ 66% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.4% | ▼ 53% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 58 | top 91% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
29:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
58
Bigger than 6% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
25.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 53% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
29:1
students per teacher
- 66% above state mean
Top 96% in Michigan - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
19.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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 + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 81.0%
Two or More 10.3%
Hispanic or Latino 5.2%
African American 3.4%
Largest group: White at 81.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 32.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 32.9, John Ball Park Zoo School is less 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 John Ball Park Zoo School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Middlehigh | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Union High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Harrison Park Academy | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southwest Elementary Academia Bilingue | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to John Ball Park Zoo School'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 middle schools in Grand Rapids
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle 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 (~58 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~29:1)
Frequently asked questions about John Ball Park Zoo School
How many students attend John Ball Park Zoo School?
John Ball Park Zoo School has 58 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Grand Rapids, MI. CCD year-over-year: 59 (2022-23) → 57 (2023-24), nearly flat (-2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at John Ball Park Zoo School?
The student-teacher ratio at John Ball Park Zoo School is 29:1, which is 66% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 85% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at John Ball Park Zoo School?
25.4% of students at John Ball Park Zoo School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of John Ball Park Zoo School?
The largest demographic group at John Ball Park Zoo School is White at 81.0% of enrollment, in Grand Rapids, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for John Ball Park Zoo School?
John Ball Park Zoo School has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (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 John Ball Park Zoo School rank among middle schools in Grand Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, John Ball Park Zoo School ranks #5 of 16 middle 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 middle schools in Grand Rapids on the city page.
What other schools are in Grand Rapids Public Schools?
Besides John Ball Park Zoo School, 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.