Forest Hills Public Schools, MI

Original Research by School Decision on Forest Hills Public Schools

Forest Hills Public Schools is a sizable, well-resourced district in Kent County, Michigan, serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across eighteen schools. The district is organized around three feeder patterns leading to Eastern, Central, and Northern high schools, each with its own middle school. Elementary families have a range of choices, including traditional elementaries, intermediate buildings for fifth and sixth grades, an environmental school, and a Spanish immersion option at Ada Vista. A transition center supports students needing additional help moving into post-secondary life. This is a district that has invested in distinct program pathways rather than a one-size-fits-all model, and parents moving into the area will want to ask which feeder pattern their neighborhood maps to.

Academic performance is a clear strength. On the most recent Michigan state assessments, proficiency rates across math, English language arts, science, and social studies are consistently strong at every tested grade level. English language arts results are particularly high, with eighth-grade proficiency reaching an exceptional level. Math proficiency holds steady across the upper elementary and middle grades, and science and social studies results remain solid throughout. Measured against the other districts in Kent County, Forest Hills sits in the top quartile for overall proficiency. That position reflects steady, building-level instruction rather than a single standout grade pulling the average up. Chronic absenteeism is low and also places the district in the top quartile among county peers, which speaks to strong engagement and attendance habits across the student body.

Per-pupil spending lands in the upper half of the county's range, neither the highest nor the lowest, which aligns with the district's reputation for solid programming without excessive overhead. The district brief did not surface any specific parent-relevant changes or controversies from recent reporting, which is itself a neutral signal of stability.

The student body is predominantly white, with meaningful representation from Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial students, along with smaller Black and Native American populations. Free and reduced-price lunch data was not available in the provided records, nor were individualized education program or English learner rates. These gaps mean the picture of economic diversity and specialized support populations is incomplete here. A parent whose child receives special education services or English language support would want to contact the district directly to understand staffing and service models, since the data does not speak to those areas.

The housing market surrounding Forest Hills is affluent relative to both state and national benchmarks. The district draws from communities including Ada, parts of Grand Rapids, Kentwood, and East Grand Rapids, and the range of home values within the district is wide. The Ada area carries the highest weight in the district's housing profile, with typical home values well above the state and national medians, while the Kentwood and Grand Rapids portions of the district offer comparatively more affordable entry points. Rents across the district are also elevated relative to the state, and the broader Kent County market shows healthy supply with moderate demand, meaning homes are selling but not at a frenzied pace. Median days on market in the county have been lengthening modestly compared to a year ago, giving buyers a bit more room than they had previously. For families weighing the cost of living, the price-to-income ratio is above the national figure, and estimated monthly mortgage costs exceed typical rents, so renting may remain the more accessible option for those entering the area.

Forest Hills fits families looking for a large district with strong academic outcomes, low absenteeism, and varied school options within a stable, relatively affluent suburban setting. The main gaps to probe directly with the district are special education staffing, English learner services, and economic diversity data, none of which were available in the materials reviewed.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

9,065

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 6%

Black 3%

White 76%

Asian 8%

Two+ 6%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

51%

74%

Gr 4

61%

76%

Gr 5

52%

78%

Gr 6

53%

74%

Gr 7

54%

73%

Gr 8

81%

93%

Math

Gr 3

47%

78%

Gr 4

55%

69%

Gr 5

38%

70%

Gr 6

36%

67%

Gr 7

49%

71%

Gr 8

58%

74%

Science

Gr 5

45%

76%

Gr 8

55%

76%

Social studies

Gr 5

40%

65%

Gr 8

57%

79%

Schools in this District

18 schools are officially reported under this district.

Meadow Brook Elementary School

Northern Trails 56 School

Central Woodlands 56 School

Ada Vista Elementary School

Goodwillie Environmental School

Knapp Forest Elementary School

Eastern Middle School

Eastern High School

Ada Elementary School

Collins Elementary School

Central Middle School

Central High School

Orchard View Elementary School

Thornapple Elementary School

Northern High School

Pine Ridge Elementary School

Northern Hills Middle School

Forest Hills Transition Center

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

73%

Grade 3

67%

Grade 4

66%

Grade 5

63%

Grade 6

68%

Grade 7

72%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

71%

Grade 3

73%

Grade 4

74%

Grade 5

71%

Grade 6

70%

Grade 7

91%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

71%

Grade 5

73%

Grade 8

Social Studies

2 grades reported

61%

Grade 5

76%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$560,816

Year-over-year change+4.8%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$308K to $652K

vs. state typical2.13x

vs. national typical1.52x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
49301	Ada	$652K	+4.9%	52.9%
49546	Kentwood	$509K	+4.7%	26.8%
49525	Grand Rapids	$386K	+4.9%	14.1%
49512	Kentwood	$368K	+2.5%	2.7%
49302		$499K	+5.8%	1.9%
49505	Grand Rapids	$308K	+3.0%	1.2%
49506	East Grand Rapids	$434K	+4.1%	0.4%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,430/mo

Year-over-year change+4.6%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$1,626 to $2,995/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
49301	Ada	$2,995	—	52.9%
49546	Kentwood	$1,747	+5.9%	26.8%
49525	Grand Rapids	$1,838	+1.5%	14.1%
49512	Kentwood	$1,626	+7.8%	2.7%
49505	Grand Rapids	$1,761	+3.3%	1.2%
49506	East Grand Rapids	$1,881	+5.8%	0.4%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,830/mo

Home price / national median income6.7x

Annual rent / national median income34.8%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$399/mo

Market Activity: Kent County

Median listing price$399,900

Median listing price YoY+1.2%

Median price per sq ft$222

Median price per sq ft YoY+8.3%

Median days on market34.3 days

Median days on market YoY+12.3%

Active listings784

Active listings YoY-0.1%

New listings948

New listings YoY-2.9%

Pending listings927

Pending listings YoY+2.3%

Hotness: median listing price$389,925

Hotness: median listing price YoY+0.6%

Supply score89.4

Supply score YoY-2.2%

Demand score65.0

Demand score YoY+1.2%

Median listing price (12 months)

Median price per sq ft (12 months)

Median days on market (12 months)

Active listings (12 months)

New listings (12 months)

Pending listings (12 months)

Hotness: median listing price (12 months)

Supply score (12 months)

Demand score (12 months)

Comparison

State typical home value$263,590 (+4.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.