Kentwood Public Schools

Kentwood Public Schools serves 9,357 students across 16 schools in a suburban Kent County setting in Michigan. The district experienced minimal enrollment growth of 0.3% in the prior year, indicating relative stability. With 552 teachers and a student-teacher ratio of 17.0:1, class sizes align with typical suburban arrangements.

Academic performance shows mixed indicators compared to state benchmarks. The graduation rate of 81.8% trails Michigan's average of 85.5%, while the dropout rate of 6.3% represents a notable concern. Chronic absenteeism affects 25.6% of students, substantially higher than typical state rates and suggesting engagement challenges.

Demographically, Kentwood reflects significant economic and linguistic diversity. Approximately 72.0% of students qualify as economically disadvantaged, and 23.6% are English learners. Students with disabilities represent 15.3% of enrollment. Racial composition is diverse, with Black students comprising 35.2% of the population, White students 23.4%, Hispanic students 18.4%, and Asian students 14.0%.

Financially, Kentwood operates with above-average per-pupil spending of $17,895.29 compared to Michigan's average of $17,165, supporting a $167.2M total budget. This elevated spending level occurs alongside higher concentrations of economically disadvantaged students, indicating resource allocation toward populations with greater support needs. The combination of economic disadvantage rates, English learner populations, and attendance patterns suggests the district manages substantial demographic complexity.