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Grand Rapids Montessori Academy

Q: Is Grand Rapids Montessori Academy a good school?

Grand Rapids Montessori Academy ranks 902 nd of 1492 Michigan alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Alternative Grades PK, KG-12

902^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Alternative Schools

Better than 40% of Michigan alternative schools

Summary

Grand Rapids Montessori Academy is a small, public Pre-K through 12th grade school in Grand Rapids, MI, serving 297 students within the Grand Rapids Public Schools district. It offers a Montessori-based education with multi-age classrooms and student-led learning, and it stands out as a strong academic performer compared to both its home district and many nearby alternative schools.

When you look at test scores, this school consistently outperforms its district by wide margins. For example, 5th-grade science proficiency hit 51.4% in the most recent year, far above the district's 23.5% and even above the state average of 40%. Reading scores in grades 3-6 are also near or above state averages, and the school beats nearby options like PrepNet Virtual Academy and Hope Academy of West Michigan in most subjects. Students here also show up more consistently—chronic absenteeism is 25.2%, compared to 41.3% for the district and over 50% at some peer schools like Pine Grove Learning Center. The school spends more per student ($19,245) than many nearby charters, which may contribute to these stronger results.

However, there are important challenges to know about. Math proficiency is a clear weak spot, with scores ranging from about 21% to 30% across grades—well below state averages. The school has also seen a significant decline in test scores over the past few years; for instance, 3rd-grade reading proficiency dropped from 66.7% in 2022-2023 to 29.1% recently. While the school serves a lower percentage of economically disadvantaged students (41.75%) than many nearby alternatives, it still faces hurdles. For families seeking a Montessori approach within the public system, this school offers a unique, engaged community with notable strengths in science and literacy, but you'll want to ask about their current math curriculum and plans to reverse recent declines.

297

Students ?

16.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,245

Per pupil spending ?

41.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

159 College Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3419

(616) 819-2405

District: Grand Rapids Public Schools

Racial breakdown:

White:

65.0%

African American:

14.1%

Hispanic:

13.8%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Grand Rapids Montessori Academy to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 51st percentile in 2023 → 40th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Michigan average (31% vs 37% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped from its 51st-percentile peak (2023) to 40th (2026)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school31%

District avg21%

Michigan avg37%

902^nd of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Bottom 40%▲ up 4 pts since 2016

From bottom 36% (2016) to bottom 40% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

480^th of 625Grand Rapids 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	37.0	902 of 1492	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.2	841 of 1488	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.7	745 of 1486	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.6	714 of 1470	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	38.4	788 of 1344	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	37.9	705 of 1153	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	25.3	1051 of 1408	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.4	1099 of 1448	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	22.7	1120 of 1466	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	37.3	996 of 1548	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2015	28.4	1186 of 1580	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	38.4	1040 of 1533	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	24.4	1262 of 1563	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	37.8	1090 of 1566	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	29.9	1296 of 1552	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	20.6	1394 of 1552	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	27.0	1361 of 1589	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	19.9	1411 of 1577	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	18.8	1429 of 1565	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	8.3	1486 of 1545	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	24.3	1014 of 1343	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	28.8	948 of 1338	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	47.1	662 of 1342	50.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.8	564 of 1321	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.4	521 of 1106	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	25.2	1109 of 1443	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	50.3	608 of 1352	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	40.2	790 of 1346	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.0	635 of 1381	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	39.2	813 of 1350	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.1	386 of 1099	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.5	264 of 749	64.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	45.3	623 of 1134	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.5	1046 of 1397	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	41.6	777 of 1372	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	49.2	666 of 1366	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.2	634 of 1347	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.4	581 of 1334	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	46.1	588 of 1139	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.0	1034 of 1446	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	43.2	672 of 1199	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	48.4	611 of 1206	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	51.5	559 of 1204	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.5	396 of 1198	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.5	376 of 1102	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	26.2	993 of 1253	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2019	26.6	596 of 792	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.9	694 of 838	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	16.2	692 of 821	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	26.2	660 of 894	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	19.3	734 of 919	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	35.9	633 of 921	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	22.2	748 of 919	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	23.5	742 of 900	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	24.2	732 of 858	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	33.6	692 of 851	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	29.7	704 of 847	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	34.7	660 of 839	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	15.9	740 of 823	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	6.6	770 of 806	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	18.8	648 of 794	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2019	46.3	355 of 672	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	17.6	697 of 815	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	24.1	615 of 797	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	9.2	712 of 824	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	29.3	527 of 835	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	82.0	130 of 832	84.4%	★★★★☆
2014	36.7	523 of 799	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2012	17.7	613 of 773	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	42.7	530 of 784	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	29.6	559 of 765	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	35.1	546 of 754	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	43.2	508 of 750	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2007	49.6	468 of 767	39.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	13.3	584 of 710	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2018	11.5	644 of 755	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)55th percentile+15 vs school

White (2026)44th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2026)43rd percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)24th percentile-15 vs school

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2019)47th percentile+22 vs school

Male (2018)23rd percentile+6 vs school

Female (2018)18th percentile~ school

High school

Female (2018)18th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2018)15th percentile~ school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

Science51%+11 vs state

English Language Arts32%-8 vs state

Math27%-10 vs state

Social Studies26%~ state avg

3.0

1 rating

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Schools Near Grand Rapids Montessori Academy

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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 ()				Ranking ()				PSAT English Language Arts (2026)			PSAT Mathematics (2026)			SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (2026)	SAT 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 ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT English Language Arts 9th Grade	PSAT English Language Arts 10th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 9th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 10th Grade	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th 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 Science 11th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Grand Rapids Montessori Academy	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	159 College Ave NE	Grand Rapids	49503	Kent County	Grand Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 819-2405	297	18	16.5	41.8%	193 (65.0%)	42 (14.1%)	41 (13.8%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.1%)								(n/a)									29.1	34.1	37.1	28.1		29.1	25.0	25.7	1567.9		51.4			26.5			$19,245	$3,274	$15,971
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1501 Cedar St NE	Grand Rapids	49503	Kent County	Lighthouse Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(616) 304-8537	73	7	10.4	95.9%	17 (23.3%)	41 (56.2%)	10 (13.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.8%)								(n/a)	310.0	27.8	27.3	252.0	305.8	347.3														1758.8			1778.8		$11,925	$5,558	$6,367
Hope Academy of West Michigan	Public, Charter, Alternative	PK, KG-12	240 Brown St SE	Grand Rapids	49507	Kent County	Hope Academy of West Michigan	Yes	No	No	Yes	(616) 301-8458	284	26	10.7	93.3%	1 (0.4%)	41 (14.4%)	240 (84.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)								(n/a)	20.8	18.2	23.1	327.2	350.9	358.1	410.0	364.6	1264.5	1367.6	16.0	15.0	23.8	1262.1	1369.2	1468.4	1575.3	14.3	12.5	1772.6	2077.3	1471.5	1781.0	2088.3	$13,842	$1,881	$11,961
Lincoln School	Public, Alternative	K-12	860 Crahen Ave NE	Grand Rapids	49525	Kent County	Kent Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	No	No	(616) 410-4700	99	27	3.7	57.6%	57 (57.6%)	20 (20.2%)	8 (8.1%)	6 (6.1%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (7.1%)								(n/a)
Lincoln Developmental Center	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	862 Crahen Ave NE	Grand Rapids	49525	Kent County	Kent Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	No	No	(616) 410-4800	77	15	5.1	37.7%	42 (54.5%)	11 (14.3%)	15 (19.5%)	3 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (7.8%)								(n/a)
Kent Independent School District (Isd) Deaf and Hard of Hearing	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	4300 Costa Ave NE	Grand Rapids	49525	Kent County	Kent Independent School District (Isd)	No	No	No	No	(616) 365-2322	61	19	3.2	41.0%	29 (47.5%)	4 (6.6%)	22 (36.1%)	2 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (6.6%)								(n/a)
Excel Charter Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	4201 Breton Rd SE	Grand Rapids	49512	Kent County	Excel Charter Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(616) 281-9339	791	42	19.0	62.6%	245 (31.0%)	255 (32.2%)	133 (16.8%)	51 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	107 (13.5%)								(n/a)	73.8			50.0					52.4	57.1	62.7	65.1	51.2	57.1	54.8	44.6	62.7	53.0	51.2	45.2		39.0	57.1		$12,534	$902	$11,633
Lighthouse Academy South Campus	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	3300 36th St SE	Grand Rapids	49512	Kent County	Lighthouse Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(616) 949-2287	213	17	12.4	93.4%	47 (22.1%)	105 (49.3%)	46 (21.6%)	6 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	8 (3.8%)								(n/a)	26.7	19.4	28.6	288.0	281.3	342.4	322.2	334.4												1764.3	2058.9		1771.9	2073.1	$21,350	$3,406	$17,943
West MI Academy of Environmental Science	Public, Charter, Alternative	PK, KG-12	4463 Leonard St NW	Grand Rapids	49534	Kent County	West MI Academy of Environmental Science	Yes	No	No	Yes	(616) 791-7454	666	51	13.0	46.5%	394 (59.2%)	63 (9.5%)	181 (27.2%)	5 (0.8%)	8 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.3%)								(n/a)	61.4	45.7	76.7	34.1	34.8	38.7	52.2	440.9	41.8	39.0	45.5	30.4	31.8	47.3	34.1	22.2	23.4	25.0	55.6	43.2	43.5	31.1	54.5	52.2	$13,389	$1,812	$11,577
PrepNet Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	3850 Broadmoor Ave SE	Grand Rapids	49512	Kent County	PrepNet Virtual Academy	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	(313) 296-1499	1,080	62	17.5	85.2%	206 (19.1%)	589 (54.5%)	81 (7.5%)	19 (1.8%)	8 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	176 (16.3%)								(n/a)	44.8	34.9	36.2	16.0	11.2	9.6	35.0	375.5	10.5	16.2	16.0	17.5	19.5	10.5	9.6	1452.1	9.7	8.8	11.0	16.8	21.0	4.2	25.6	26.2	$12,503	$952	$11,551

Frequently Asked Questions about Grand Rapids Montessori Academy

Is Grand Rapids Montessori Academy a good school?

Grand Rapids Montessori Academy ranks 902^nd of 1492 Michigan alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Grand Rapids Montessori Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 297 students attended Grand Rapids Montessori Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Grand Rapids Montessori Academy?

Students at Grand Rapids Montessori Academy are 65% White, 14% African American, 14% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races.

What district is Grand Rapids Montessori Academy in?

Grand Rapids Public Schools

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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.