Summary:
Two middle schools, Burton Middle School and Alger Middle School, serve the 49507 zip code area of Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is part of the Grand Rapids Public Schools district. Both schools are among the lowest-performing in the state, ranking in the bottom 10% of Michigan middle schools.
The data shows that both Burton Middle School and Alger Middle School have significantly lower proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math compared to the district and state averages. For example, in 2024-2025, only 3.8% of 6th graders at Burton Middle School were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 24.8% for the district and 38.6% for the state. Both schools also have very high chronic absenteeism rates, with nearly 30% of students chronically absent. Additionally, the schools serve predominantly low-income communities, with over 90% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
Despite the relatively high per-student spending at these schools, the academic outcomes remain poor. This suggests that simply allocating more resources may not be the sole solution to the challenges these schools face. Addressing the root causes of the low performance, such as high absenteeism and socioeconomic factors, will be crucial in improving outcomes for students in this community.
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