- Enrollment
- 955
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
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 13/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 261644005350
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 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 13/100 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
- 13
- 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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+17 students YoY
Union High School held near 939 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+17 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 45.8 → 52.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+17 students YoY 261644005350 · Grand Rapids, MI High · MID · TRAD
881 enr · 19.6:1 · 84.8% lunch · RII 13
Nearest enrollment peer: City Middlehigh (955 students)
Union High School held near 939 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+17 headcount). Teacher FTE added 45.8 → 52.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Union High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- City Middlehig
City Middlehigh
955 students
- This school
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
- Burton Middle
Burton Middle School
488 students
What this shows Union High School reports 881 students on the CCD universe file.
How Union High School compares
Union High 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 | 19.6:1 | ▲ 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 methodology
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
$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
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.
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
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 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
- 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
Nationwide high 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 (~881 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 922 (2022-23) → 939 (2023-24), nearly flat (+17).
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 13/100 (lower 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 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.
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.