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Thornapple Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-4

46^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 97% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Thornapple Elementary School in Grand Rapids, MI, is a top-rated public school serving 361 students in grades PK through 4 within the highly regarded Forest Hills Public Schools district, which ranks 11th out of 625 districts in Michigan.

Thornapple consistently earns a 5-star rating and ranks in the 94th percentile or higher statewide, with a peak rank of 46th in Michigan for the 2025-2026 school year. One of its standout strengths is exceptional performance with male students, where it ranks 14th in the state (99th percentile)—significantly higher than its overall rank. The school also shows a remarkable recent improvement in serving students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, jumping from the 49th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 95th percentile in 2024-2025, suggesting targeted interventions are working. In 4th-grade math, Thornapple shines: 76.9% of students are proficient, far exceeding the state average of 39.4% and even surpassing the district average of 71.4%. This trend has held for three consecutive years. Chronic absenteeism is virtually a non-issue at just 6.7%, compared to 27.9% statewide, reflecting strong family-school engagement. The school also operates efficiently, spending $14,933 per student—less than nearby Meadow Brook Elementary School ($16,969) and Ada Elementary School ($19,522)—while achieving comparable or better results.

Within its own district, Thornapple outperforms Collins Elementary School by a wide margin in 4th-grade math (76.9% vs. 50.7%), though it trails slightly behind peers like Knapp Forest Elementary School and Pine Ridge Elementary School. Compared to schools in neighboring districts serving higher percentages of low-income families, such as Ridgemoor Park Montessori and Ridge Park Charter Academy, Thornapple's proficiency rates are dramatically higher. Even against the well-regarded East Grand Rapids Public Schools, Thornapple holds its own with comparable proficiency across most subjects. For parents seeking a consistently high-achieving, efficiently run elementary school with strong support for all learners, Thornapple is an excellent choice.

361

Students ?

16.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,933

Per pupil spending ?

14.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6932 Bridgewater Dr SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546-9722

(616) 493-8920

District: Forest Hills Public Schools

Students who attend Thornapple Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Central Middle School
	Central Woodlands 56 School
High:	Central High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

77.3%

Asian:

8.0%

Two or more races:

7.8%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Thornapple Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 89th percentile in 2016 → 97th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Michigan average (73% vs 40% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 3% of Michigan elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 8 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school73%

District avg71%

Michigan avg40%

46^th of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Top 3%▲ up 8 pts since 2016

From top 11% (2016) to top 3% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 8Elementary Schools in the Forest Hills Public Schools

11^th of 625Forest Hills Public Schools among Michigan districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	95.3	46 of 1492	96.9%	★★★★★
2025	93.1	77 of 1488	94.8%	★★★★★
2024	90.9	96 of 1486	93.5%	★★★★★
2023	91.7	88 of 1470	94.0%	★★★★★
2022	93.8	55 of 1344	95.9%	★★★★★
2021	89.3	78 of 1153	93.2%	★★★★★
2019	84.5	160 of 1408	88.6%	★★★★☆
2018	94.4	46 of 1448	96.8%	★★★★★
2017	86.4	119 of 1466	91.9%	★★★★★
2016	85.0	164 of 1548	89.4%	★★★★☆
2015	91.8	75 of 1580	95.3%	★★★★★
2014	94.4	27 of 1533	98.2%	★★★★★
2013	96.2	11 of 1563	99.3%	★★★★★
2012	94.3	29 of 1566	98.1%	★★★★★
2011	83.2	86 of 1552	94.5%	★★★★★
2010	84.7	12 of 1552	99.2%	★★★★★
2009	79.5	217 of 1589	86.3%	★★★★☆
2008	84.3	88 of 1577	94.4%	★★★★★
2007	82.0	150 of 1565	90.4%	★★★★★
2006	83.2	103 of 1545	93.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	88.5	107 of 1343	92.0%	★★★★★
2025	84.5	163 of 1338	87.8%	★★★★☆
2024	91.0	65 of 1342	95.2%	★★★★★
2023	92.7	47 of 1321	96.4%	★★★★★
2022	94.0	28 of 1106	97.5%	★★★★★
2021	85.7	67 of 902	92.6%	★★★★★
2019	85.4	102 of 1171	91.3%	★★★★★
2018	91.0	71 of 1443	95.1%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	88.0	69 of 1346	94.9%	★★★★★
2024	45.4	710 of 1381	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	66.4	333 of 1350	75.3%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	97.3	14 of 1372	99.0%	★★★★★
2025	95.8	30 of 1366	97.8%	★★★★★
2024	86.8	130 of 1347	90.3%	★★★★★
2023	88.7	94 of 1334	93.0%	★★★★★
2022	88.8	86 of 1139	92.4%	★★★★★
2021	86.1	80 of 915	91.3%	★★★★★
2019	80.4	174 of 1196	85.5%	★★★★☆
2018	94.4	36 of 1446	97.5%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	93.5	45 of 1199	96.2%	★★★★★
2025	92.5	56 of 1206	95.4%	★★★★★
2024	86.9	109 of 1204	90.9%	★★★★★
2023	86.3	120 of 1198	90.0%	★★★★★
2022	92.6	46 of 1102	95.8%	★★★★★
2021	87.0	74 of 1005	92.6%	★★★★★
2019	82.6	145 of 1128	87.1%	★★★★☆
2018	92.9	40 of 1253	96.8%	★★★★★

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Male (2026)99th percentile~ school

White (2026)96th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)95th percentile~ school

Female (2026)92nd percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

Math76%+35 vs state

English Language Arts70%+31 vs state

★

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Schools Near Thornapple Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				PSAT English Language Arts (2026)	PSAT Mathematics (2026)	M-Step English Language Arts (2026)					M-Step Math (2026)					M-Step Science (2026)		M-Step Social Studies (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 3rd Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 4th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Thornapple Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	6932 Bridgewater Dr SE	Grand Rapids	49546	Kent County	Forest Hills Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 493-8920	361	22	16.4	14.7%	279 (77.3%)	5 (1.4%)	20 (5.5%)	29 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (7.8%)	95.3	46^th of 1492 public elementary schools	96.9%		93.1	77^th of 1488 public elementary schools	94.8%	31			64.1	76.9				75.6	76.9								$14,933	$1,127	$13,806
Ada Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	731 Ada Dr SE	Ada	49301	Kent County	Forest Hills Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 493-8940	293	25	11.9	10.9%	233 (79.5%)	4 (1.4%)	14 (4.8%)	27 (9.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (5.1%)	97	25^th of 1492 public elementary schools	98.3%		96.8	28^th of 1488 public elementary schools	98.1%	3			73.2	81.2				81.7	72.5								$19,522	$844	$18,678
Ada Vista Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-4	7192 Bradfield Ave SE	Ada	49301	Kent County	Forest Hills Public Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(616) 493-8970	446	25	17.6	7.0%	315 (70.6%)	7 (1.6%)	76 (17.0%)	8 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (9.0%)	93.6	74^th of 1492 public elementary schools	95.0%		90.9	107^th of 1488 public elementary schools	92.8%	33			63.9	72.7				71.1	71.7								$13,581	$590	$12,992
Pine Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	3250 Redford Dr SE	Grand Rapids	49546	Kent County	Forest Hills Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 493-8910	472	27	17.7	8.3%	404 (85.6%)	11 (2.3%)	18 (3.8%)	12 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.7%)	97.1	23^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	98.5%		94.6	57^th of 1488 public elementary schools	96.2%	34			73.3	75.9				82.4	76.9								$14,232	$751	$13,481
Meadow Brook Elementary School	Public	K-4	1450 Forest Hill Ave SE	Grand Rapids	49546	Kent County	Forest Hills Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 493-8740	431	29	14.8	26.5%	246 (57.1%)	28 (6.5%)	35 (8.1%)	71 (16.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (11.8%)	91.5	109^th of 1492 public elementary schools	92.7%		91.2	104^th of 1488 public elementary schools	93.0%	5			76.8	63.7				68.1	65.9								$16,969	$715	$16,255
Collins Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	4368 Heather Ln SE	Grand Rapids	49546	Kent County	Forest Hills Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 493-8900	356	19	18.4	18.8%	240 (67.4%)	14 (3.9%)	31 (8.7%)	41 (11.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (8.1%)	77.7	293^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	80.4%		89.6	125^th of 1488 public elementary schools	91.6%	168			50.0	67.2				55.6	50.7								$14,361	$654	$13,707
Ridge Park Charter Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	4120 Camelot Ridge Dr SE	Grand Rapids	49546	Kent County	Ridge Park Charter Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(616) 222-0093	507	32	15.8	91.3%	48 (9.5%)	334 (65.9%)	77 (15.2%)	9 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (7.7%)	43.5	802^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	46.2%		47.2	760^th of 1488 public elementary schools	48.9%	42	71.4	38.1	38.3	47.1	33.9	48.2	42.3	42.0	27.5	16.1	32.1	34.6	26.8	35.7	21.4	57.1	$14,839	$1,683	$13,156
Ridgemoor Park Montessori	Public	PK, KG-6	2555 Inverness Rd SE	Grand Rapids	49546	Kent County	Grand Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 819-5321	131	8	16.5	40.5%	78 (59.5%)	25 (19.1%)	12 (9.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (11.5%)	37.2	900^th of 1492 public elementary schools	39.7%		39.6	871^st of 1488 public elementary schools	41.5%	29			33.3	39.1	39.1			1261.3	21.7	26.1			30.4		26.1		$20,245	$2,528	$17,716
Breton Downs School	Public	PK, KG-5	2500 Boston St SE	Grand Rapids	49506	Kent County	East Grand Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 235-7552	451	22	20.2	7.3%	396 (87.8%)	4 (0.9%)	23 (5.1%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.1%)	96.5	35^th of 1492 public elementary schools	97.7%		97.1	24^th of 1488 public elementary schools	98.4%	11			67.5	72.7	82.5			71.4	68.8	74.1			85.2		75.3		$12,416	$65	$12,351
Lakeside School	Public	K-5	2325 Hall St SE	Grand Rapids	49506	Kent County	East Grand Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 235-7553	453	26	17.2	7.5%	376 (83.0%)	6 (1.3%)	34 (7.5%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (7.7%)	96.6	34^th of 1492 public elementary schools	97.7%		98	14^th of 1488 public elementary schools	99.1%	20			65.0	73.5	79.0			73.8	77.1	70.4			76.5		80.2		$13,167	$162	$13,005

Frequently Asked Questions about Thornapple Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Thornapple Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Thornapple Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Central Middle School
Middle : Central Woodlands 56 School
High : Central High School

How many students attend Thornapple Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 361 students attended Thornapple Elementary School.

Is Thornapple Elementary School a good school?

Yes! Thornapple Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 46^th of 1492 Michigan elementary schools.

What district is Thornapple Elementary School in?

Forest Hills Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Thornapple Elementary School?

Students at Thornapple Elementary School are 77% White, 8% Asian, 8% Two or more races, 6% Hispanic, 1% African American.

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Latest Michigan data All new data »

2025–26 M-Step, PSAT & SAT test scoresSep 4, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataJan 6, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.