The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in Science. The lowest is 39% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Highlands School
Highlands School sits in the Northview Public Schools district in Grand Rapids, serving only fifth and sixth graders. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it functions as an intermediate building that bridges the gap between elementary and middle school for families in this part of the district. The enrollment is moderate for a two-grade school, with a nearly even split between the two grades.
The student body is predominantly white, with a meaningful presence of students identifying as two or more races, Hispanic or Latino, and Black. A smaller share identify as Asian. Nearly half the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which gives a sense of the economic mix within the building. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not reported, so those population sizes are not available here. A parent who wants to understand how the school serves those groups would need to ask directly.
On state assessments, Highlands shows a mixed but generally solid profile. In English language arts, roughly half of fifth graders reached proficiency, while the sixth-grade rate came in lower. Math followed a different pattern, with sixth graders outperforming fifth graders. Science results for fifth grade landed close to the midpoint, and social studies was the weakest area. Taken together, the school's overall proficiency sits above the midpoint among districts in Kent County, which is a reasonably encouraging signal for a building that captures only two transitional grades. Because the school serves just fifth and sixth graders, there is no graduation rate to report, and that absence reflects the grade band rather than anything about performance.
Participation rate data was not available for any of the tested subjects, which limits the ability to judge how completely the tested population represents the enrolled population. Trend data was also not comparable year over year, so it is hard to say whether these results represent improvement, decline, or stability. A parent considering the school might want to ask how results have moved over time and what the school is doing to support the subjects where proficiency lags.
Northview Public Schools has recently renovated school buildings and grounds with voter-approved support, according to publicly reported district information. That capital work touches the physical environment students experience day to day, and for a building serving young adolescents, the quality of those spaces matters.
The surrounding community is Grand Rapids, Michigan's second-largest city and the economic center of West Michigan. The city carries a furniture-manufacturing heritage and has built out a diversified economy around healthcare, education, manufacturing, and technology. The Medical Mile corridor, anchored by Corewell Health and several university health-science programs, represents a major investment in the area. Cultural amenities include museums, a riverfront, Frederik Meijer Gardens, and the annual ArtPrize competition. The downtown core is walkable and active, though outer neighborhoods are more car-dependent. For a family whose child attends Highlands, this means access to an urban center with cultural and recreational assets while living in a district that has its own identity within the larger city.
Housing in the school's zip code carries a typical home value that is above the state benchmark and modestly above the national benchmark. Rents are moderate relative to income, and the estimated monthly mortgage cost runs slightly higher than the typical rent, which is worth noting for families weighing buying versus leasing. The broader Kent County housing market shows steady listing activity with homes moving at a moderate pace, and listing prices have edged up slightly over the past year. Supply and demand indicators suggest a market that is active but not severely constrained.
Highlands is a school for families looking at the fifth-to-sixth transition within a district that has invested in its facilities and sits in a community with strong civic and economic anchors. Its academic results are respectable relative to county peers, with room to grow in certain subjects. The two-year window means families are choosing a short-term placement, and the question is whether the school's environment and instruction during those years fit the child rather than whether it defines a long-term academic path.
See more original research from School Decision →