NexTech High School

NexTech High School is a small public charter high school in Grand Rapids, MI, serving 144 students in grades 9-12, where over 84% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

NexTech faces significant challenges with student outcomes. The graduation rate for the 2024-2025 school year was just 52.3%, far below the state average of 84.0% and dramatically lower than nearby schools like City High Middle School (100%) and Grand Rapids Public Museum High (92.7%). The dropout rate of 19.0% is nearly three times the state average of 7.1%. These metrics have been persistently poor for the past five years, with graduation rates hovering between 38.1% and 56.1% since 2021-2022. The school's overall performance ranking has also declined dramatically from the 72nd percentile in 2014-2015 to the 28th percentile today. Chronic absenteeism affects nearly one in three students (32.9%), which likely contributes to the cycle of disengagement reflected in these outcomes.

Academically, test scores are below state averages across all subjects. For example, only 30.2% of 11th graders are proficient in SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, compared to 52.1% statewide. However, there is a notable pattern: 9th graders show significantly higher proficiency in English Language Arts (50%) than 10th graders (38.1%), suggesting the school may be more effective with younger students or that the student body becomes less academically prepared as it progresses. Per-student spending was $11,309 in 2024-2025, lower than many Grand Rapids Public Schools options, though spending has been volatile in recent years. The contrast with high-performing neighbors like City High Middle School—which maintains a 99th percentile ranking—highlights that while NexTech serves a high-poverty population, other area schools demonstrate that strong outcomes are achievable, pointing to potential areas for improvement.