- Enrollment
- 1,088
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Grand Rapids, MI
Northern Hills Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Northern Hills Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 261461005160
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 49
📋 Attendance 43
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northern Hills Middle School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median.
- #1 of 16
- middle schools in Grand Rapids · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.8:1
- students per teacher
- 14.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Northern Hills Middle School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northern Hills Middle School ranks #1 of 16 middle schools in Grand Rapids, MI.
School address
District: Forest Hills Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261461005160 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-12 students YoY
Northern Hills Middle School held near 534 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 30.0 → 28.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-12 students YoY 261461005160 · Grand Rapids, MI Middle · MID · TRAD
515 enr · 17.8:1 · 14.8% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Northern High School (1,088 students)
Northern Hills Middle School held near 534 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-12 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 30.0 → 28.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Northern Hills Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Northern High
Northern High School
1,088 students
- Central High S
Central High School
999 students
- Eastern High S
Eastern High School
768 students
- Eastern Middle
Eastern Middle School
528 students
- Northern Trail
Northern Trails 56 School
520 students
- This school
Northern Hills Middle School
515 students
What this shows Northern Hills Middle School reports 515 students on the CCD universe file.
How Northern Hills Middle School compares
Northern Hills Middle 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 | 17.8:1 | ▲ 2% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 14.8% | ▼ 73% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 515 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.8:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
515
Bigger than 64% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
14.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 73% 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
17.8:1
students per teacher
- 2% above state mean
Top 61% in Michigan - lower ratio than 39% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
22.7%
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
$14,433
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 258 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
17
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 67.0%
Hispanic or Latino 10.1%
Asian 9.9%
Two or More 6.6%
African American 6.4%
Largest group: White at 67.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.3, Northern Hills Middle School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Forest Hills Public Schools reports $14,433 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Northern Hills Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eastern High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Eastern Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northern Trails 56 School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northern Hills Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 999
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 768
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 528
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 520
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
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 (~515 students)
Frequently asked questions about Northern Hills Middle School
How many students attend Northern Hills Middle School?
Northern Hills Middle School has 515 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Grand Rapids, MI. CCD year-over-year: 546 (2022-23) → 534 (2023-24), nearly flat (-12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northern Hills Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Northern Hills Middle School is 17.8:1, which is 2% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Northern Hills Middle School?
14.8% of students at Northern Hills Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northern Hills Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Northern Hills Middle School is White at 67.0% of enrollment, in Grand Rapids, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northern Hills Middle School?
Northern Hills Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Northern Hills Middle School rank among middle schools in Grand Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Northern Hills Middle School ranks #1 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 Forest Hills Public Schools?
Besides Northern Hills Middle School, Forest Hills Public Schools also operates Northern High School (1,088 students), Central High School (999 students), and Eastern High School (768 students). See the Forest Hills Public Schools district page for the complete list.