Preschool

Please note that all Children’s House programs are tuition-based programs for Pre-K3 and Pre-K4.

*All of our preschool options for 3-year-olds are limited to Montessori. Similarly, all of our preschool options for 4-year-olds through our theme school application are limited to Montessori. We do offer preschool options for 4-year-olds at all of our elementary schools, but only Montessori is placed through the theme school application. If you are interested in applying for preschool at a school other than Montessori, please contact the Early Childhood Department at 819-2111.

**All Montessori kindergarten classrooms are half-day.

Age of Entry

*Please check with the Early Childhood Office on specifics of GSRP age waiver. Age waivers are currently available but are subject to change.

The Montessori environment contains specially designed, hands-on materials that invite children to engage in learning activities of their own choosing. Under the guidance of a specially trained teacher, children in a Montessori classroom learn by making discoveries with the materials, cultivating concentration, motivation, self-discipline and a love of learning. Students learn in cohorts of three age levels. The multi-age classroom allows the students to become part of a learning community that fosters respect, understanding, and tolerance.

Grand Rapids Montessori (PK3 - 12)* ** is located near the heart of downtown in the Heritage Hill neighborhood, where students learn in the historic Fountain Building surrounded by green space and gardens.

North Park Montessori (PK3 - 8)* ** features 2 campuses tucked away in the neighborhood. “Big” North Park is home to children in grades 1 through 8, and “little” North Park is home to Children’s House, students age 3 through kindergarten.

Ridgemoor Park Montessori (PK3 - 6)* ** is a newly renovated school found in the heart of the Ridgemoor neighborhood on the southeast side of Grand Rapids, adjacent to Ridgemoor Park which provides spectacular green space.

Elementary

*All of our preschool options for 4-year-olds through our theme school application are limited to Montessori. We do offer preschool options for 4-year-olds at all of our elementary schools, but only Montessori is placed through the theme school application. If you are interested in applying for preschool at a school other than Montessori, please contact the Early Childhood Department at 819-2111.

For information about Grand Rapids Montessori (PK3-12), North Park Montessori (PK3-8), and Ridgemoor Park Montessori (PK3-6) please refer to the Preschool section.

CA Frost Environmental Science Academy (K - 12)* is designed to offer an experiential, hands-on approach for students interested in environmental science. Examples include local flora and fauna studies, ice and fly-fishing/angling instruction, adventure learning, local habitat studies, rock and mineral studies, naturalist studies, organic gardening and vermicomposting, greenhouse management and supplying local restaurants with hydroponically-grown produce, academy-wide Reduce, Reuse, Recycle program, “leave no trace” primitive camping training, sugarbush maple syrup collection, birding experiences, other wildlife observation, and more!

Coit Creative Arts Academy (K - 5)* is where artistic students thrive! The arts are incorporated into all fields of learning, including math and science. Visual arts, music, dance, and performance are all used as tools to further students’ learning. Students at Coit enjoy exciting trips to the symphony, ballet, plays, musicals and more! Coit is also in the candidacy phase of becoming an International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme school, the global standard of excellence in education.

Gerald R. Ford Academic Center (K - 8)* offers a college-focused culture where students embrace the idea that college is important and prepare for this goal by building habits of excellent scholarship and leadership. Students learn in small classes that foster civic and community leadership, develop character and integrity and participate in service-learning projects. At Ford, expectations are always high, including for parents and guardians, as outlined in the parent/guardian compact. Placement in the program is contingent on a parent/guardian interview, according to the selection criteria.

Sherwood Park Global Studies Academy (K - 6)* is where tradition meets technology. Students are prepared for the global economy through language and cultural studies. Sherwood Park Global Studies Academy is located in Grand Rapids’ southeast side, in a building filled with artwork that reflects the global studies theme and highlights the diversity of its students. Sherwood Park is in the candidacy phase of becoming an International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme school, the global standard of excellence in education.

Southwest Elementary School - Academie Bilingue (K-6)* offers a proven dual immersion experience in English and Spanish to help students become bilingual and bicultural. Research demonstrates that bilingual people are well-positioned for a successful future with more opportunities at college and in the workplace. Additionally, bilingual students perform better on standardized tests and are significantly more competitive in an increasingly global economy. In partnership with Plaza Roosevelt, Southwest will open a new $20 million middle/high school campus, which will grow a grade each year until grade 12. SWCC accepts students at all grades, but because of the dual immersion model, students applying to grades 2 and above need to submit a theme school application and then test for proficiency in English and Spanish.

6 Grade Only

Applicants for test-in schools [Blandford School, Center for Economicology, Zoo School, or City High/Middle (grades 7-9 only)] must submit nationally normed test scores demonstrating that the student is at the 50th National Percentile or higher in both reading and mathematics. Due to Covid restrictions, we understand that not all students were able to test during the 2020-2021 school year. As a result, we are considering students who have scored at the 50th National Percentile or higher in reading OR mathematics in their most recent test, which may include fall 2019, winter 2020, fall 2020, winter 2021, or spring 2021 scores. 

*Submitted applications for test-in schools will be considered incomplete until test scores are received.*

Students who are NOT current GRPS students are required to submit test scores with their application. Students who are not eligible based on all of the requirements are notified of ineligibility and are provided the opportunity to appeal with new scores.

We provide opportunities for non-GRPS students to take the NWEA (MAP) test. All testing will take place at GR University, located at 1400 Fuller Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI. Please contact the Community & Student Services Department at (616) 819-2150 to register for this test. For additional information regarding NWEA (MAP) visit www.nwea.org. Dates provided will be in February. Students must apply first, then schedule with Student Services at 819-2150 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Blandford School (6 only) extends beyond four walls and into the great outdoors, where your child will learn to identify different types of plants, trees, frogs, and birds. This experience is enhanced by two yearly camping trips where students learn team-building and outdoor skills. Additionally, students learn hands-on business skills by collecting and selling the eggs produced by the chickens. A year at Blandford is one your child will never forget! Nestled into the farm campus at Blandford Nature Center, the LEED-certified building is surrounded by 143 acres of forests, fields, and creeks, creating an organic and hands-on learning experience about the natural world.

Center for Economicology (6 only) is a combination of the words “economy” and “ecology”. Coined by Peter Wege, the term advocates for reasoned, respectful, engaged stewardship of the Earth in service of both people and the planet. There are six guiding philosophies that provide the backbone for the Center for Economicology, known as the “Six E’s”. The Six E’s are ECOLOGY, ECONOMICS, EMPATHY, ENVIRONMENT, ETHICS, and EDUCATION.

Zoo School (6 only) believes in the importance of learning through collaboration. Students participate in a number of groups as well as individual projects throughout the year. Projects culminate in an independently-chosen final project that allows students to creatively demonstrate their research and presentation skills. Students have exclusive opportunities to participate in exciting activities at the Zoo, including animal feeding, raising salmon, recycling, navigating trials, and water sampling. Students also participate in two camping trips during the year.

Middle School

Transcripts are required to be submitted with your application for grades 10 (non-GRPS students only). Placement of students in grades 11 & 12 is handled on a case-by-case basis.

For information about CA Frost Environmental Science Academy (K-12), Gerald R. Ford Academic Center (K-8), and Southwest Community Campus (K-9) please refer to the Elementary section.

For information about Grand Rapids Montessori (PK3-12) and North Park Montessori (PK3-8) please refer to the Preschool section.

Grand Rapids Public Museum School (6 - 11) is filled with unique objects and artifacts from the community as well as around the world! Students have exclusive opportunities to touch, see, and learn from these historical items every day. This hands-on approach to learning activates the mind and a child’s natural curiosity. Primary sources and their stories help students connect history, culture, art, science, and other subjects. Each day at the Museum School is different from the one before and activities often take students outside the classroom into the community. Students will be active every day and outdoors frequently. 

Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy (6-12) is for students who value individualized learning plans in a rigorous college and career prep program. Students benefit from a culture of inclusion, innovation, and diversity in small class sizes utilizing project-based learning. Students create an individualized learning plan with input from their advisor and parent or guardian. This plan guides their work and is based on the student’s personal interests, skill level, maturity, and learning style. Students participate in interest-based projects in addition to their traditional classwork. Teachers use narratives, which provide specific and concrete feedback, help to inform the student’s given grade. Please note that transportation is not provided for grades 6-8. 

City High/Middle School (7-12) is proud to be an International Baccalaureate school. International Baccalaureate (IB), is an international program that expertly prepares students around the world for their post-secondary education. 7-10 grade students follow IB’s Middle Years Programme, or “MYP”, while 11 and 12 graders follow the Diploma Programme, or “DP”. Both programs are designed to encourage students to become lifelong learners who are naturally curious, seek knowledge to consider complex issues, and are able to communicate confidently and creatively. Qualifying math and reading NWEA (MAP) test scores are required for selection to City High/Middle (grades 7th - 9th). Students who are NOT current GRPS students are required to submit test scores with their application. Students who are not eligible based on all of the requirements are notified of ineligibility and are provided the opportunity to appeal with new scores.

Southwest Middle High School - Academie Bilingue (7-10)* offers a proven dual immersion experience in English and Spanish to help students become bilingual and bicultural. Research demonstrates that bilingual people are well-positioned for a successful future with more opportunities at college and in the workplace. Additionally, bilingual students perform better on standardized tests and are significantly more competitive in an increasingly global economy. In partnership with Plaza Roosevelt, Southwest will open a new $20 million middle/high school campus, which will grow a grade each year until grade 12. SWCC accepts students at all grades, but because of the dual immersion model, students applying to grades 2 and above need to submit a theme school application and then test for proficiency in English and Spanish.

High School

For information about Grand Rapids Public Museum School (6-11), Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy (6-12), and City High/Middle School (7-12) please refer to the Middle School section.

For information about CA Frost Environmental Science Academy (K-12) and Southwest Community Campus (K-9) please refer to the Elementary section.

For information about Grand Rapids Montessori (PK3-12) please refer to the Preschool section.

Transcripts are required to be submitted with your application for grades 10 (non-GRPS students only). Placement of students in grades 11 & 12 is handled on a case-by-case basis.

Innovation Central High School combines all the innovation, talent, resources, and partnerships of five academies on one campus.

• Academy of Business, Leadership & Entrepreneurship (9 & 10) teaches students about business, management, marketing, and finance through cutting edge classroom instruction, internships, and real-world experience.
• Academy of Design & Construction (9 & 10) engages students in architecture, engineering, design, and construction through real-world and hands-on experiences.
• Academy of Health Sciences & Technology (9 & 10) goes beyond the classroom to develop the skills, knowledge, and personal characteristics needed in the healthcare industry.
• Academy of Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (9 & 10) offers pathways in engineering, biomedical science, and computer science using a hands-on national curriculum to prepare students for college and careers. Students experience many interactions with industry partners and universities in STEM fields.
• Academy of Teaching & Learning (9 only) is proud to partner with Ferris State University School of Education on curriculum design, dual enrollment opportunities, and hands-on student teaching opportunities. Students will have the opportunity to earn up to 7 credits from Ferris State University through dual enrollment.

Ottawa Hills High School is home to innovation focused on new college-career prep academies offering work-based learning experiences, internships, and apprenticeships.

• Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (9 only) helps students chart career paths in one of the world’s largest industries, including lodging, sports, entertainment, travel, food, and event management. Ottawa Hills High School has partnered with the National Academy Foundation to help the students meet the needs of this growing industry, emphasizing customer service and the mastery of tangible skills.
• Academy of Media Production (9 only)
• Academy of Public Safety (9 only)
• Early Middle College (10 only) is where students, beginning in 10th grade, take college courses along with high school classes. Students in the program complete a 13th year made up primarily of college courses. Students graduate after year 13 with a high school diploma and an associate degree for free, with at least 60 transferable credits. Students must have a minimum of a 2.5 grade point average to qualify.

Priority Placements

As the Grand Rapid Public Schools, our obligation, first and foremost, is to those that live within our boundaries. The following factors are considered first in placing students:

1. K-5 students living within the neighborhood boundary of the theme school to which they are applying
2. Grand Rapids residents with a sibling currently attending the applied for school (does not include test-in schools)
3. Non-Grand Rapids residents, with a sibling currently attending the applied-for school (does not include test-in schools)
4. Full time staff who work at the applied-for school (does not include test-in schools)
5. Grand Rapids residents, regardless of the school they are currently attending 
6. Non-residents with a sibling currently attending any GRPS school

Lottery Process

Students to whom the factors in the "Priority Placement" section do not apply will be randomized, sorted for each program, and placed in the school to which they applied to fill the remaining available seats.

Waitlist

Students who did not receive a placement in their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd choices will automatically be placed on the waitlist for their 1st choice.

If a student declines their placement, they may elect to be added to the waiting list of any theme school.

Students may not accept a placement and simultaneously remain on a waitlist for another theme school.

Students will be assigned a "waitlist number" and that will be the order in which they are contacted if a seat at the selected school becomes available.

Submitting New Documents

If you receive a letter stating that your student is "ineligible due to test scores", there is no appeals process. You may, however, submit new, qualifying scores when they become available. You may submit these documents by hand-delivering them to the Office of Community and Student Services at 1331 Franklin SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506; faxing them to 616-819-2017 (attn: Community and Student Services); or sending them via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..