- Enrollment
- 1,088
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Grand Rapids, MI
Northern Trails 56 School
Federal NCES profile for Northern Trails 56 School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 261461000900
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northern Trails 56 School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of Michigan schools.
- #5 of 24
- elementary schools in Grand Rapids · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.3:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 14.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Northern Trails 56 School has class sizes larger than 75% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northern Trails 56 School ranks #5 of 24 elementary schools in Grand Rapids, MI.
School address
District: Forest Hills Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261461000900 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+21 students YoY
Northern Trails 56 School held near 499 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+21 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 27.8 → 28.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+21 students YoY 261461000900 · Grand Rapids, MI Elementary · MID · TRAD
520 enr · 19.3:1 · 14.2% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Northern High School (1,088 students)
Northern Trails 56 School held near 499 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+21 headcount). Teacher FTE added 27.8 → 28.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Northern Trails 56 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
- This school
Northern Trails 56 School
520 students
- Knapp Forest E
Knapp Forest Elementary School
520 students
What this shows Northern Trails 56 School reports 520 students on the CCD universe file.
How Northern Trails 56 School compares
Northern Trails 56 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 | 19.3:1 | ▲ 10% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 14.2% | ▼ 74% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 520 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.3:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
520
Bigger than 64% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
14.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 74% 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
19.3:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 75% in Michigan - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
19.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 520 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 66.5%
Hispanic or Latino 11.5%
Asian 9.0%
Two or More 7.3%
African American 5.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 66.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.8, Northern Trails 56 School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
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 Trails 56 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 | Similar 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 |
| Knapp Forest Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northern Trails 56 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
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar elementary schools in Grand Rapids
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary 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 (~520 students)
Frequently asked questions about Northern Trails 56 School
How many students attend Northern Trails 56 School?
Northern Trails 56 School has 520 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Grand Rapids, MI. CCD year-over-year: 478 (2022-23) → 499 (2023-24), nearly flat (+21).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northern Trails 56 School?
The student-teacher ratio at Northern Trails 56 School is 19.3:1, which is 10% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 23% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Northern Trails 56 School?
14.2% of students at Northern Trails 56 School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northern Trails 56 School?
The largest demographic group at Northern Trails 56 School is White at 66.5% of enrollment, in Grand Rapids, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northern Trails 56 School?
Northern Trails 56 School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Trails 56 School rank among elementary schools in Grand Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Northern Trails 56 School ranks #5 of 24 elementary 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 elementary schools in Grand Rapids on the city page.
What other schools are in Forest Hills Public Schools?
Besides Northern Trails 56 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.