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Northern High School

Public Grades 9-12

21^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 739 Michigan High Schools

Better than 97% of Michigan high schools

Summary

Northern High School is a public high school located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, serving grades 9-12 and part of the Forest Hills Public Schools district. The school has consistently been ranked among the top high schools in the state, with a current ranking of 21 out of 739 Michigan high schools for the 2024-2025 school year.

Northern High School's academic performance is exceptional, with 64.2% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in M-Step/Science, compared to 64.9% for the Forest Hills Public Schools district and 34.9% for the state of Michigan. The school also demonstrates strong college readiness, with 83.1% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in SAT/Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, compared to 84.8% for the district and 55.4% for the state. Additionally, Northern High School maintains high graduation rates, with a 96.3% four-year graduation rate in the 2023-2024 school year, and low dropout rates, with a 1.1% dropout rate in the same year.

When compared to other nearby high schools, such as Eastern High School and East Grand Rapids High School, which are also part of the top-performing districts in the state, Northern High School maintains a competitive edge in academic achievement and college readiness. However, the school's chronic absenteeism rate, which reached 30.8% in the 2022-2023 school year, is an area that could benefit from further investigation and targeted interventions.

1,088

Students ?

15.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,105

Per pupil spending ?

17.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3801 Leonard St NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525-3372

(616) 493-8600

District: Forest Hills Public Schools

Feeder schools for Northern High School:

Elementary:	Collins Elementary School
	Meadow Brook Elementary School
Middle:	Northern Hills Middle School
	Northern Trails 56 School

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.7%

Hispanic:

8.5%

Asian:

8.3%

See top rated Michigan high schools

Compare Northern High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 94th percentile in 2015 → 97th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Michigan average (67% vs 40% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 3% of Michigan high schools

✓95% graduate in 4 years — above the Michigan average (83%)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school67%

District avg70%

Michigan avg40%

21^st of 739

Michigan public high schools ?

Top 3%▲ up 3 pts since 2015

From top 6% (2015) to top 3% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3High Schools in the Forest Hills Public Schools

11^th of 613Forest 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
2025	96.0	21 of 739	97.2%	★★★★★
2024	93.5	39 of 743	94.8%	★★★★★
2023	92.8	37 of 735	95.0%	★★★★★
2022	98.2	9 of 531	98.3%	★★★★★
2021	84.0	69 of 561	87.7%	★★★★☆
2019	95.3	24 of 666	96.4%	★★★★★
2018	95.9	22 of 824	97.3%	★★★★★
2017	97.6	9 of 835	98.9%	★★★★★
2016	95.8	20 of 852	97.7%	★★★★★
2015	90.9	51 of 832	93.9%	★★★★★
2014	94.5	29 of 799	96.4%	★★★★★
2013	95.5	28 of 805	96.5%	★★★★★
2012	95.5	21 of 773	97.3%	★★★★★
2011	90.7	28 of 784	96.4%	★★★★★
2010	91.6	20 of 765	97.4%	★★★★★
2009	89.6	53 of 754	93.0%	★★★★★
2008	87.3	71 of 750	90.5%	★★★★★
2007	89.8	37 of 767	95.2%	★★★★★
2006	90.3	34 of 705	95.2%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	91.7	11 of 192	94.3%	★★★★★
2024	64.7	47 of 188	75.0%	★★★★☆
2023	66.0	38 of 170	77.6%	★★★★☆
2022	99.3	1 of 51	98.0%	★★★★★
2018	64.4	63 of 254	75.2%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	71.7	25 of 69	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.8	32 of 70	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	81.2	14 of 63	77.8%	★★★★☆
2022	70.0	12 of 31	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.3	17 of 42	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	83.0	15 of 87	82.8%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2024	82.8	3 of 43	93.0%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	95.4	21 of 629	96.7%	★★★★★
2024	92.5	34 of 619	94.5%	★★★★★
2023	88.1	49 of 611	92.0%	★★★★★
2022	98.1	6 of 416	98.6%	★★★★★
2021	70.8	98 of 462	78.8%	★★★★☆
2019	91.4	37 of 554	93.3%	★★★★★
2018	93.9	31 of 710	95.6%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	94.9	8 of 203	96.1%	★★★★★
2024	88.4	18 of 195	90.8%	★★★★★
2023	64.5	54 of 190	71.6%	★★★★☆
2022	93.3	4 of 83	95.2%	★★★★★
2019	96.4	3 of 97	96.9%	★★★★★
2018	95.5	12 of 201	94.0%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	87.2	54 of 635	91.5%	★★★★★
2024	55.8	255 of 654	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.9	116 of 614	81.1%	★★★★☆
2022	92.2	20 of 369	94.6%	★★★★★
2021	84.5	45 of 417	89.2%	★★★★☆
2019	96.6	14 of 532	97.4%	★★★★★
2018	89.0	42 of 755	94.4%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	94.2	27 of 628	95.7%	★★★★★
2024	91.2	42 of 633	93.4%	★★★★★
2023	94.2	30 of 611	95.1%	★★★★★
2022	97.3	15 of 440	96.6%	★★★★★
2021	87.8	49 of 472	89.6%	★★★★☆
2019	96.1	13 of 543	97.6%	★★★★★
2018	95.6	12 of 707	98.3%	★★★★★

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	92.1	10 of 127	92.1%	★★★★★
2018	84.9	13 of 93	86.0%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	98.8	4 of 125	96.8%	★★★★★
2024	30.8	91 of 130	30.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2025	95.5	19 of 639	97.0%	★★★★★
2024	90.8	43 of 638	93.3%	★★★★★
2023	90.3	48 of 647	92.6%	★★★★★
2022	98.2	6 of 492	98.8%	★★★★★
2021	75.3	94 of 516	81.8%	★★★★☆
2019	95.6	20 of 582	96.6%	★★★★★
2018	95.6	17 of 708	97.6%	★★★★★

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)

White (2025)97th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)97th percentile~ school

Female (2025)97th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)96th percentile~ school

Male (2025)96th percentile~ school

African American (2025)94th percentile-3 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)93rd percentile~ school

Multi-racial (2025)92nd percentile-5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)91st percentile-6 vs school

Asian (2025)64th percentile-33 vs school

By subject vs Michigan (2024-2025) ?

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing83%+28 vs state

Social Studies67%+25 vs state

Science64%+29 vs state

Mathematics55%+27 vs state

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Schools Near Northern High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (2025)	SAT Mathematics (2025)	M-Step Science (2025)	M-Step Social Studies (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	M-Step Science 11th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Northern High School	Public	9-12	3801 Leonard St NE	Grand Rapids	49525	Kent County	Forest Hills Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 493-8600	1,088	70	15.4	17.6%	769 (70.7%)	71 (6.5%)	92 (8.5%)	90 (8.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (6.0%)	96	21^st of 739 public high schools	97.2%		93.5	39^th of 743 public high schools	94.8%	18	83.1	54.8	64.2	67.2	$16,105	$816	$15,289
Forest Hills Transition Center	Public	12	3787 Leonard St NE	Grand Rapids	49525	Kent County	Forest Hills Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 493-8685	8	2	3.7		4 (50.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (12.5%)	2 (25.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (12.5%)								(n/a)					$27,597	$18,091	$9,506
Kent Career Technical Center	Public	9-12	1655 E Beltline Ave NE	Grand Rapids	49525	Kent County	Kent Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	No	No	(616) 364-8421	0	80	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
MySchoolKent	Public	6-12	1655 E Beltline Ave NE	Grand Rapids	49525	Kent County	Kent Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	No	No	(616) 447-5680	0	15	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Kent Education CenterBeltline	Public	9-12	1606 Leffingwell Ave NE	Grand Rapids	49525	Kent County	Kent Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	No	No	(616) 410-4760	43	13	3.2	74.4%	19 (44.2%)	11 (25.6%)	4 (9.3%)	1 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (18.6%)								(n/a)
Eastern High School	Public	9-12	2200 Pettis Ave NE	Ada	49301	Kent County	Forest Hills Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 493-8830	768	43	17.7	13.9%	621 (80.9%)	16 (2.1%)	29 (3.8%)	65 (8.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (4.7%)	96.1	20^th of 739 public high schools	97.3%		93.9	35^th of 743 public high schools	95.3%	15	87.2	66.3	60.0	62.9	$16,110	$1,081	$15,029
Lighthouse Academy The Pier	Public, Charter	9-12	703 Ball Ave NE	Grand Rapids	49503	Kent County	Lighthouse Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(616) 304-8537	7	2	3.2		1 (14.3%)	5 (71.4%)	1 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)					$28,837	$12,434	$16,402
Empower U	Public	6-12	225 Mayfield Ave NE	Grand Rapids	49503	Kent County	Kent Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	No	No	(616) 410-4860	188	38	4.9	41.5%	106 (56.4%)	36 (19.1%)	28 (14.9%)	8 (4.3%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.8%)								(n/a)
East Grand Rapids High School	Public	9-12	2211 Lake Dr SE	Grand Rapids	49506	Kent County	East Grand Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 235-7555	908	47	19.3	6.5%	735 (80.9%)	25 (2.8%)	64 (7.0%)	14 (1.5%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (7.4%)	99.1	5^th of 739 public high schools	99.3%		98.7	7^th of 743 public high schools	99.1%	2	89.5	71.9	72.4	81.0	$14,662	$373	$14,289
Northview Next Career Center	Public	9-12	3801 E Beltline Ave NE	Grand Rapids	49525	Kent County	Northview Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 361-7396	32	3	9.3	50.0%	18 (56.3%)	4 (12.5%)	2 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (25.0%)								(n/a)					$24,922	$748	$24,173

Frequently Asked Questions about Northern High School

What district is Northern High School in?

Forest Hills Public Schools

What is the racial makeup of Northern High School?

Students at Northern High School are 71% White, 8% Hispanic, 8% Asian, 7% African American, 6% Two or more races.

How many students attend Northern High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,088 students attended Northern High School.

What schools feed into Northern High School?

Northern High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Collins Elementary School
Elementary : Meadow Brook Elementary School
Middle : Northern Hills Middle School
Middle : Northern Trails 56 School

Is Northern High School a good school?

Yes! Northern High School is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 21^st of 739 Michigan high schools.

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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.