East Kentwood High School

East Kentwood High School is a large, diverse public high school in Grand Rapids, MI, serving 2,068 students in grades 10-12 as part of the Kentwood Public Schools district.

East Kentwood stands out as a solid educational anchor in its community, particularly when it comes to keeping students on track. The school's graduation rate of 88.6% is notably higher than several nearby schools, including Crossroads Alternative High School (62.9%) and 54th Street Academy (69.3%). Its dropout rate of 3.1% is dramatically lower than both the district average (5.7%) and the state average (7.1%). Even more impressive, East Kentwood's test scores substantially exceed those of nearby schools serving similar student populations. For example, 46.8% of East Kentwood 11th graders were proficient in SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, nearly double the rate at Kelloggsville High School (33.6%) and Godwin Heights Senior High School (30.9%).

However, the school faces real challenges. Chronic absenteeism sits at 34.6%, well above the state average of 27.9%, and has remained stubbornly high for four years. Additionally, while the school performs well overall, there are significant gaps in outcomes for English Language Learner and Special Education students compared to their peers. It's also worth noting that East Kentwood is surrounded by some of the highest-performing schools in the state, like Byron Center High School and West Michigan Aviation Academy, which serve far fewer students from economically challenged backgrounds. East Kentwood spends $19,040 per student—more than those top-performing neighbors—reflecting the higher costs of supporting a student body where 65.5% qualify for free or reduced lunch. For parents, East Kentwood offers a stable, diverse environment that excels at graduating students, though it continues working to close achievement gaps and improve attendance.