Middle Schools in Kentwood Public Schools

Kentwood Public Schools operates three middle schools—Pinewood, Crestwood, and Valleywood—serving grades 6-8 with roughly 2,083 students in a suburban area of Michigan, where all schools serve significant economically disadvantaged populations (free/reduced lunch rates from 67.6% to 81.2%).

Crestwood Middle School is the clear academic leader, ranking in the 67th percentile statewide (3 stars) and outperforming both district and state averages in nearly every subject and grade. For example, Crestwood’s 8th-grade PSAT math proficiency (37.1%) is nearly double that of Valleywood Middle School (20.4%), and its 7th-grade ELA proficiency (43.0%) far exceeds the district average (33.2%). Crestwood achieves this despite 73.1% of its students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, showing consistent success over three years. In contrast, Pinewood Middle School sits in the middle—ranking in the 41st percentile—but generally falls below district averages, despite having the lowest poverty rate (67.6%) and the lowest chronic absenteeism (22.6%, below the state average). Valleywood struggles the most, ranking in the 30th percentile, with the highest poverty (81.2%) and a chronic absenteeism rate of 41.3%—nearly double the district average—which heavily impacts its academic outcomes.

A striking paradox emerges with spending: Valleywood spends the most per student ($21,151) and has the lowest student-teacher ratio (14.1:1), yet achieves the lowest scores, while Crestwood spends less ($18,139) and outperforms everyone. This suggests that resources alone don’t drive success—school culture and instructional quality likely matter more. Encouragingly, Valleywood is improving year-over-year (its ranking jumped from the 22nd to 30th percentile), while Pinewood is declining in several subjects. All three schools show relative strength in 8th-grade PSAT English Language Arts, with even Valleywood reaching 53.8% proficiency. For parents, Crestwood offers the strongest academics, Pinewood provides a stable environment with moderate performance, and Valleywood, despite challenges, is trending upward.