2024 Best Magnet Schools in the Grand Rapids Area

• Grand Rapids Public Schools, MI•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  256 reviews

Senior: Overall, I had a positive experience at City. I attended City from 7th through 12th grade, and will be graduating in just a week! City is certainly a very challenging learning environment. The classes are quite rigorous, partially due to the IB nature of the school. The IB element, though often challenging and confounding, does provide a comprehensive curriculum that covers more that what some schools might. The workload that City has, however, is very challenging, and I would argue unnecessary and unproductive at times. There were times at City in which I definitely struggled to stay afloat both academically and personally, and I think the workload was a large contributor to this. In the end, though, I am happy that I went though this, as it allowed me to overcome this academic hardship and further myself as a person. The peer and staff relationship at City is great, and I always found myself surrounded by many smart and talented people. City isn't for everyone, but it can be great.... Read 256 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 907

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Byron Center Public Schools, MI•

• K-4

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: Great school with great teachers! My son just graduated from 4th grade at Countryside. With a child that has several ADHD with EFD his teachers wood never give up on him nor treat him differently than any other child. I am very thankful to live in a great township with excellent education.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 606

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Forest Hills Public Schools, MI•

• 5-6

• •
  Rating 4.55 out of 5  11 reviews

Middle School Student: as a student that attended this is the school to go to ask the teachers about Lydia Morey that's me!... Read 11 reviews

• grade A

• Students 103

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Hudsonville Public School District, MI•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 578

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Forest Hills Public Schools, MI•

• K-4

• grade A

• Students 465

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Lowell Area Schools, MI•

• PK, K-5

• grade A minus

• Students 408

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Grand Rapids Public Schools, MI•

• 6

• grade A minus

• Students 63

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Kenowa Hills Public Schools, MI•

• K-5

• grade B+

• Students 566

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Caledonia Community Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  344 reviews

Senior: Some of the best parts of my experience at Caledonia High School have been the amazing staff and teachers! I have connected well with many of the teachers. I have learned so much from them and they inspire me. I love learning spanish and the language department at Caledonia has made it so much fun! They have inspired me to continue learning spanish in college and maybe use it in my future career. One of the worst parts of my experience at Caledonia is the community within the student body. The community is great for the most part, however there is a severe problem of bullying. While I personally have not been bullied, I have witnessed it, and many of my friends have faced it. I think that we can see change in the community within the student body. Social media has poised the way we treat each other. We need to start with how we use social media. Instead of using it to post about an embarrassing thing a student did, it should be used for communication and community.... Read 344 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,500

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Grand Rapids Public Schools, MI•

• 6

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Middle School Student: My time at this particular educational magnet and establishment was pretty good. When I first got into this particular educational attraction, I was a bit disappointed. Not because the teachers or any of the staff were bad; actually, they were the best part of this experience. Generally, one of my few criticisms came from the educational criteria. Everybody was telling me this school was the best in the country, or best of the best. I looked up the rankings, and at the time, it was indeed one of the best 6th grade schools in the country. My first day of school, disappointing at how this "challenging and national recognized environment" wasn't much of a challenge at all. The only challenging part about it was trying to maintain good grades and passing tests with the many tests conducted frequently; maybe perhaps, way too frequent. The students are this school are generally pretty good. It really depends on the year. Last year, there were racist people, but this year, its pretty good.... Read 1 review

• grade B+

• Students 64

• Student-teacher ratio 32:1

• Grand Rapids Public Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  7 reviews

Senior: At Museum, we say the community is our classroom and we go on excursions and establish community partnerships. We use mastery grading: this eliminates the letter system that is notoriously different for every teacher and district. For example, I started a group to plan a trip to NYC for our graduating Senior Class. Since we are new, we don't have as many traditional events or clubs, and the ones we do have are run by students. There is no band or orchestra, but we have an amazing choir. Admin is overworked, and a few students in other grades have behavioral problems. The teachers are supportive, compassionate, and flexible. Sometimes we learn through games like the Science 11 CitySim month-long board game, or the Society and Self economy games. If you want to do something and you take initiative, they will help you because they actually care about you. Students that take advantage of this will thrive here. The teachers, students, and opportunities make this school worth it.... Read 7 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 272

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Grand Rapids Public Schools, MI•

• 6

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  1 review

• grade B

• Students 54

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Kenowa Hills Public Schools, MI•

• K-5

• grade B

• Students 417

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Fruitport Community Schools, MI•

• PK, K-5

• grade B

• Students 316

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Grand Rapids Public Schools, MI•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  10 reviews

Freshman: This is my first year at CA! The academics are great, my grades have never looked better. I’m passing my advanced classes. I’d like to see students treating their peers and teachers more respectfully.... Read 10 reviews

• grade B

• Students 367

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Holland City School District, MI•

• K-5

• grade B

• Students 302

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Grand Rapids Public Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.78 out of 5  40 reviews

Senior: Innovation Central has given me the opportunity to truly embrace my skills and find my way through my academic career. Innovation is allowing me to have the opportunity to have my EMS license by the time I graduate in may setting me up for success all around! The teachers have been so nice, welcoming and helpful, they've allowed me to expand my horizons when it comes to furthering my education in university. Without this school and the help from all of the staff and students I wouldn't be here today being able to have the opportunity to further my education and make a difference in the world!... Read 40 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 641

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Kenowa Hills Public Schools, MI•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Middle School Student: I just got to middle school and not going to lie, it's a great school and they support LGBTQIA+. The school could have better lunches, but they are great including the snack bar!... Read 2 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 650

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Fruitport Community Schools, MI•

• PK, K-5

• grade B minus

• Students 557

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Grand Rapids Public Schools, MI•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  10 reviews

Alum: Overall I loved my experience as a student of Grand Rapids Montessori. The Montessori experience is an opportunity I feel every student should be offered. The encouragement and constant resources made available to me were very important in my learning process. I've only had one parent graduate from high school, so to graduate myself was of the upmost importance. Though school was a little hard at times, I knew I was safe. From safe spaces to knowing my teachers truly wanted to see my class and I succeed; there was more than enough support and educational help to climb the ladder of success with a Montessori education.... Read 10 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 315

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Grand Rapids Public Schools, MI•

• PK, K-8

• grade B minus

• Students 392

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Kenowa Hills Public Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.51 out of 5  263 reviews

Senior: Kenowa Hills High School may not have the best lunch schedule or the best planning for the school years ahead, but they have made both online schooling and face to face during Covid great, our students are always somehow fed, there's always a teacher available to help and minimal complaints. As a student, I feel very ready in preparing for college and the application process.... Read 263 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 989

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Fruitport Community Schools, MI•

• PK, 6-8

• •
  Rating 4.75 out of 5  4 reviews

Niche User: My child is getting a fantastic education from everyday cuuriculum to extracurriculur activities. I also have two older children who have graduated from Fruitport. They have accepted full scholarships at State Universities and many college credits that they earned in high school. Fruitport prepared them well.... Read 4 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 594

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Grand Rapids Public Schools, MI•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  42 reviews

Senior: Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy Is a very diverse and LGBTQ+ safe school. They have many opportunities with college classes and Ap classes. They make high school students take internships and help grow their experience.... Read 42 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 449

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Orchard View Schools, MI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  86 reviews

Alum: I recently graduated from OV and I feel as if my education was lacking something. While the faculty and facilities were amazing and I loved the community that raised me. I coasted by school for many of my years and wasn’t met with a real challenge until my senior year, in which I was in one of the two AP classes my school offered. I also feel as if the lack of AP also put me at a disadvantage when applying for colleges as I was put behind all of my peers whom I was competing for enrollment with. And while I’m genuinely grateful and love the school I came from, I do feel academics could step up.... Read 86 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 624

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1