The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in English language arts. The lowest is 15% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Ada Vista Elementary School
Ada Vista Elementary School sits in Ada Township, a residential suburb just east of Grand Rapids, and operates as part of the Forest Hills Public Schools district. The township blends suburban subdivisions with rural stretches and a historic village center along M-21. Ada is the corporate home of Alticor and Amway, which shapes the local economy, and the township has seen steady residential growth over the past two decades. The Grand and Thornapple Rivers run through the area, and Ada Park provides a community gathering space with athletic courts and natural areas. Schools here sit on separate campuses scattered through the township rather than clustered in the village core, so arriving at school means a drive for most families.
The school serves kindergarten through fourth grade with an enrollment that is moderate for an elementary building. The student body is predominantly white, with a sizable Hispanic share and smaller proportions of students identifying as Asian, Black, or two or more races. Economic disadvantage is quite low here; only a small fraction of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The data did not include counts for students with individualized education programs or English learners, so a parent wanting to understand special-population services would need to ask the school directly.
On state assessments, Ada Vista posts strong results. In the most recent M-STEP cycle, math proficiency held in the upper range for both third and fourth grade. English language arts performance was solid in third grade and rose notably in fourth grade. Across tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Kent County, which is a real strength and reflects well on the academic environment for early-grade learners.
One data point stands apart. A fourth-grade science proficiency result appears in the data, but it dates back several years and is much lower than the current math and ELA figures. Michigan has since shifted its science testing schedule, so this older number may not reflect what the school looks like today. A parent may want to look into current science instruction with the school rather than rely on that dated result. No participation rate data was available for any of the current assessments, which is a gap worth noting.
Because Ada Vista ends at fourth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and the school does not appear in chronic absenteeism data in the comparison set. No Title I status was reported, and the data did not include information on course access, staffing ratios, discipline, or attendance. Program offerings were not provided, so families interested in extracurriculars, enrichment, or specialized instruction will need to seek that information from the school or district.
The housing market around Ada Vista is expensive. Typical home values in the school's zip code run well above both the state and national benchmarks, and rents are correspondingly high. The broader Kent County market shows moderate inventory with homes selling in a reasonable timeframe, but the local price-to-income ratio suggests that buying near this school requires a strong household income. For families already established in the area or able to manage the cost, the combination of a well-resourced community and strong early-elementary academic performance makes Ada Vista a solid option. We looked for recent parent-relevant changes in the Forest Hills district and found little, so there is nothing to flag there.
For a family weighing fit, the picture is clear. Ada Vista offers high-performing early grades in an affluent, growing suburb with strong community amenities and limited economic diversity among students. The academic results are a genuine strength. The gaps in available data on special populations, programs, and staffing are the main things a prospective parent should probe directly.
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