Forest Hills Public Schools

Forest Hills Public Schools serves 9,201 students across 18 schools in Kent County, Michigan, operating as a suburban district with a four-tier structure of 8 elementary, 6 middle, and 4 high schools. The district experienced a 1.2% enrollment decline in the prior year, suggesting slight contraction after a period of stability. With 509 teachers, the student-teacher ratio stands at 18.1:1, which aligns with typical suburban district configurations.

Academically, Forest Hills reports a 96.4% graduation rate, substantially above Michigan's state average of 85.5%, with a dropout rate of 1.2%. Chronic absenteeism registers at 9.7%, indicating moderate attendance challenges. The student population reflects relatively low economically disadvantaged enrollment at 14.3%, with 4.4% English learners and 10.1% students with disabilities. Racial and ethnic composition is predominantly White at 75.7%, with Asian students representing 8.0%, Hispanic 6.8%, and Black students 3.3%.

The district operates with a total budget of $134.8 million and per-pupil spending of $14,872.06, which is below Michigan's state average of $17,165. This funding gap of approximately $2,293 per student may reflect differences in operational costs or resource allocation decisions. The combination of above-average academic outcomes alongside lower-than-average per-pupil spending suggests efficient resource utilization, though the modest enrollment decline warrants monitoring for potential long-term budget implications.