Summary:
Zip code 49507 in Grand Rapids is served by two middle schools—Burton Middle School and Alger Middle School—both part of the Grand Rapids Public Schools district, which carries a 1-star rating and ranks in the 23rd percentile statewide.
Both schools serve grades 6-8 and face significant challenges, with academic proficiency rates in the bottom 1-2% of Michigan schools. Burton is the larger school (488 students) and generally outperforms Alger (314 students) despite receiving less funding per student ($18,131 vs. $22,377). Burton also has a lower chronic absenteeism rate at 42.2% compared to Alger's severe 69.3%, where nearly 7 in 10 students miss significant instructional time. In 2025-2026, Burton posted slightly better results in 8th grade Science (5.2% vs. 3.88% proficient) and Social Studies (14.2% vs. 11.8%), while Alger edged out Burton in 6th grade Math (3.49% vs. 2.24%) and 7th grade Math (3.96% vs. 2.4%). Alger spends over $4,200 more per student and maintains a better student-teacher ratio (16:1 vs. 19.1:1), yet these advantages have not translated into improved outcomes—a spending paradox that suggests resources alone are not the solution.
Both schools serve highly impoverished populations, with 77.87% (Burton) and 89.17% (Alger) of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. Math proficiency is critically low across both schools, ranging from 2.24% to 3.96%, meaning 96-98% of students are not meeting grade-level standards. Chronic absenteeism is the defining crisis, particularly at Alger where the rate is 2.5 times the state average. Year-over-year data shows stagnant or declining performance, including Burton's 8th grade Science dropping from 10.2% to 5.2% and Alger's Science falling from 9.6% to 3.88%. While Social Studies shows relative strength, the overall picture indicates that addressing attendance and foundational math skills are the most critical levers for improvement in this area.
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