Enrollment
227
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Grand Rapids, MI
Riverside Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Riverside Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 261644005340
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 55
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Riverside Middle School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 75% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #3 of 16
- middle schools in Grand Rapids · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.2:1
- small classes for Michigan
- 87.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Riverside Middle School has class sizes smaller than 75% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Riverside Middle School ranks #3 of 16 middle schools in Grand Rapids, MI.
School address
District: Grand Rapids Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261644005340 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
16.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.2:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
-19% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
87.5%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+61% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Riverside Middle School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Riverside Middle School
Riverside Middle School is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, enrolling 227 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.2:1 puts it in the smaller third of Michigan schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 87.5% of students qualify for free meals, 61% above the Michigan average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 227 puts it in the smaller third of Michigan schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Against 284 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #70.
Its student body is led by African American (61%) and Hispanic or Latino (17%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 57/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 227 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 65.6% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Grand Rapids Public Schools spends $16,601 per pupil, 23% above the Michigan average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 21.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 104 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 227 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Grand Rapids's middle schools, it stands alongside Alger Middle School (314 students): Riverside Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.2:1 vs 19.6:1).
Grand Rapids Public Schools also operates City Middlehigh (955 students) and Union High School (881 students) alongside Riverside Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Riverside Middle School compares
Riverside Middle School on the metrics families compare, against 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 | 87.5% | ▲ 61% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 227 | top 72% | - | - |
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.
227
Bigger than 23% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
87.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% 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
65.6%
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
$16,601
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $13,507
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 227 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
20
in-school suspensions + 84 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 45.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 61.2%
Hispanic or Latino 16.7%
White 11.5%
Two or More 10.1%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 61.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.4, Riverside Middle School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Grand Rapids Public Schools, which includes Riverside Middle School.
$16,601
Per student
+23%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
+0%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.7%
State 45.7%
Federal 21.6%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Riverside Middle School 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 Riverside Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 955
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- 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.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~227 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Riverside Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Riverside Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Grand Rapids Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Riverside Middle School
How many students attend Riverside Middle School?
Riverside Middle School has 227 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Grand Rapids, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Riverside Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Riverside Middle School 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 Riverside Middle School?
87.5% of students at Riverside Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Riverside Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Riverside Middle School is African American at 61.2% of enrollment, in Grand Rapids, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Riverside Middle School?
Riverside Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Riverside Middle School rank among middle schools in Grand Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Riverside Middle School ranks #3 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.
Is Riverside Middle School a good school?
Riverside Middle School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 75% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Grand Rapids Public Schools?
Besides Riverside Middle 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.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.