The top reported proficiency rate is 45% in English language arts. The lowest is 29% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Endeavor Elementary
Endeavor Elementary sits on East Paris Avenue in Grand Rapids, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as part of Kentwood Public Schools. It is a regular public school with no charter or magnet designation. The student body is sizeable for an elementary building, and its composition reflects the diversity that characterizes Kentwood as a district. Black students form the largest single group, with White and Asian students each representing substantial shares, and a smaller but visible Hispanic population alongside students of two or more races. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which shapes the kinds of support families expect the school to provide. The school lists pre-kindergarten in its grade span, though current enrollment shows no pre-K students on the rolls, possibly reflecting the district's shift of early childhood programming to its new Early Childhood Main Campus that opened in fall 2024.
Academically, Endeavor's state testing results from the most recent M-STEP administration tell a mixed story. English language arts is the stronger area. Proficiency rises across the upper grades, with fifth graders reaching a level where roughly half meet or exceed standards. Fourth grade sits close behind, and third grade is a bit lower but still in a respectable range for a school with this demographic profile. Math results are more uneven. Fourth grade shows the highest math proficiency of the three tested grades, while third and fifth grade math proficiency lands lower. Fifth grade science and social studies results fall in a middle range, with science slightly below social studies. Taken together, Endeavor's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint among Kent County districts, though not dramatically so. The gap between the school and the county median is narrow enough that context matters, and a parent may want to look into how the school supports math instruction across grade levels, particularly at the entry and exit points of the tested range.
Several data gaps are worth naming. Participation rates for the state assessments were not reported, so it is hard to confirm whether the proficiency figures reflect the full tested population. English learner and individualized education program data were not available, which limits the picture of how the school serves students with specialized needs. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent improvement, decline, or stability. Because Endeavor is an elementary school, it has no graduation rate, and that metric does not apply here. Chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, and course access information was also absent, so those dimensions of school climate and resourcing cannot be characterized from what was provided.
The surrounding housing market in the school's zip code is moderate relative to Kent County overall. Typical home values sit near the national figure and above the state benchmark, while rents run modestly. The county-level market shows active inventory that has been moving, with homes spending roughly a month on the median market and pending transactions outpacing new listings in recent months. For families considering a move into the attendance area, this means a market that is active but not overheated, with options at a range of price points.
Grand Rapids itself is Michigan's second-largest city and the economic anchor of West Michigan. Its identity grew from furniture manufacturing, and today the economy spans healthcare, education, retail, and technology. The Grand Rapids Medical Mile, a corridor of health-science institutions along the downtown riverfront, has drawn major investment and serves as both an employment engine and a civic landmark. The city hosts ArtPrize annually and carries the "Beer City USA" moniker for its craft brewery scene. Kentwood Public Schools sits within this broader urban context, and the district is in a period of capacity building. Beyond the new early childhood campus, Hamilton Elementary, a new pre-K through five building on Breton Road, is scheduled to open in fall 2025, which may affect elementary assignments across the district including Endeavor's catchment.
For a family weighing Endeavor, the school offers a diverse peer environment and ELA results that trend upward through the upper elementary grades. The math picture is less consistent, and the available data does not extend to staffing ratios, attendance, or program offerings that might explain the pattern. The district's investment in new facilities signals growth and attention to elementary capacity, which could shape the school's trajectory in coming years.
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