Enrollment
881
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Grand Rapids, MI
Union High School
Federal NCES profile for Union High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 14/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 261644005350
👥 S:T ratio 22
📚 AP courses 20
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Union High School earns 14/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #21 of 22
- high schools in Grand Rapids · Resource Index
- 14
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.6:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 84.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Union High School has class sizes larger than 77% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Union High School ranks #21 of 22 high schools in Grand Rapids, MI.
School address
District: Grand Rapids Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261644005350 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
45.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.6:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
84.8%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+56% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Union High School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Union High School
Union High School is a high-poverty, large high school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, enrolling 881 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 19.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Michigan schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 84.8% of students qualify for free meals, 56% above the Michigan average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Michigan, bigger than 94% of state schools at 881 students.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 97% of the 3,375 Michigan schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 158 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Michigan schools statewide, it ranks #134, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (49%) and African American (36%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 62/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 4 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 881 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 79.1% 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: 316 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 881 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 9 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Grand Rapids's high schools, it stands alongside Grand River Preparatory High School (635 students): Union High School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (19.6:1 vs 21.2:1).
Grand Rapids Public Schools also operates City Middlehigh (955 students) and Harrison Park Academy (708 students) alongside Union High 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 Union High School compares
Union High 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 | 19.6:1 | ▲ 12% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 84.8% | ▲ 56% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 881 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.6:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
881
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
84.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% 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
19.6:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 77% in Michigan - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
79.1%
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 881 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 313 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 35.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 9 expulsions.
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
Hispanic or Latino 49.1%
African American 35.8%
White 7.8%
Two or More 6.0%
Asian 1.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 49.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.1, Union High School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Grand Rapids Public Schools, which includes Union High 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 Union High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Middlehigh | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Harrison Park Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southwest Elementary Academia Bilingue | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Burton Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Union High 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
- 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
- Enrollment
- 488
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Similar high schools in Grand Rapids
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Grand River Preparatory High School
Standard public school
635 students 21.2:1 students per teacher
West Michigan Aviation Academy
Standard public school
600 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Innovation Central High
Standard public school
386 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
Covenant House Academy Grand Rapids
Alternative education program
218 students 18.2:1 students per teacher
Nextech High School
Standard public school
144 students 24:1 students per teacher
Kenowa Hills Pathways High School
Alternative education program
99 students 33:1 students per teacher
Similar high 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 (~881 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Union High School's federal record.
- Compare Union High 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 Union High School
How many students attend Union High School?
Union High School has 881 students enrolled. It is a high school in Grand Rapids, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Union High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Union High School is 19.6:1, which is 12% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 25% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Union High School?
84.8% of students at Union High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Union High School?
The largest demographic group at Union High School is Hispanic or Latino at 49.1% of enrollment, in Grand Rapids, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Union High School?
Union High School has a Resource Investment Index of 14/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Union High School rank among high schools in Grand Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Union High School ranks #21 of 22 high 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 high schools in Grand Rapids on the city page.
Is Union High School a good school?
Union High School earns 14/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% 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 Union High School, Grand Rapids Public Schools also operates City Middlehigh (955 students), Harrison Park Academy (708 students), and Southwest Elementary Academia Bilingue (661 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.