Crossroads Alternative High School

Crossroads Alternative High School in Grand Rapids, MI, is a small alternative school within the Kentwood Public Schools district, serving 216 students in grades 6 through 12 who have not found success in traditional school settings.

This school serves a student body where 83.8% qualify for free or reduced lunch, and it faces significant academic challenges. The graduation rate of 62.9% is well below the district average of 84.3% and the state average of 84.0%, though it represents a dramatic improvement from just 27.8% four years ago. The dropout rate of 17.2% is more than double the district rate, and chronic absenteeism affects 39.4% of students—a figure that has improved substantially from 66.9% in 2021-2022. Test scores are low, with only 21.6% of 10th graders proficient in English Language Arts compared to 50.4% district-wide. When compared to nearby traditional schools like East Kentwood High School (88.6% graduation rate) or Byron Center High School (96.9%), the gaps are stark. However, Crossroads performs better than some alternative schools in the area—its chronic absenteeism rate of 39.4% is far better than 54th Street Academy's 83.0%, and its graduation rate exceeds Godwin Heights Learning Center's 53.4%.

The school spends $23,523 per student—significantly more than East Kentwood's $19,040—reflecting smaller class sizes (15.4:1 student-teacher ratio) and specialized support for at-risk students. While the metrics remain concerning, the positive momentum is noteworthy: graduation rates have more than doubled since 2020-2021, and dropout rates have fallen from 29.5% to 17.2%. For parents considering this school, it's important to understand that Crossroads serves as a safety net for students who have struggled elsewhere, and the improving trends suggest recent interventions are making a difference, even as the school continues to face substantial hurdles in helping students catch up academically.