Kentwood Public Schools

Kentwood Public Schools is a mid-sized Michigan district serving roughly 7,800 students across 15 schools—10 elementary schools (PK-5), 3 middle schools (6-8), and 2 high schools—with a district-wide ranking in the 47th percentile and a 2-star rating.

For parents, the standout choice is Explorer Elementary, which consistently ranks in the 83rd-85th percentile statewide (4 stars) and outperforms the state average in nearly every subject—for example, 63.3% of its 5th graders are proficient in ELA versus 43.8% statewide. Glenwood Elementary is the most improved, jumping from the 54th to 79th percentile in one year, though its gains are uneven across grade levels. At the middle school level, Crestwood Middle is the clear leader, ranking in the 67th-70th percentile and beating its peers by wide margins—its 8th grade PSAT math proficiency is 37.1% versus 20.4% at Valleywood Middle. At the high school level, East Kentwood High School posts a strong 88.6% graduation rate and a low 3.1% dropout rate, though its SAT scores trail state averages.

However, the district shows stark contrasts. Townline Elementary is a major concern, ranking in the 19th percentile with just 8.7% of 3rd graders proficient in ELA—a 32-point gap from the district average. Crossroads Alternative High School faces the toughest challenges, with a 62.9% graduation rate, 17.2% dropout rate, and 39.4% chronic absenteeism. Chronic absenteeism is a strong predictor of performance: top schools like Discovery Elementary (12%) and Explorer (12.4%) have the lowest rates, while Valleywood Middle (41.3%) and Crossroads (39.4%) have the highest. Math is the district's weakest subject—only Explorer and Glenwood exceed state averages in 5th grade math, and most schools fall 10-20 points below state proficiency. Notably, higher spending doesn't guarantee better results: Explorer spends just $16,412 per student yet outperforms schools spending over $20,000, suggesting leadership and engagement matter more than funding alone.