The focus of this guide is on topics related to education and learning in the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
A K-12 public school curriculum is provided by Grand Rapids Public Schools, as well as some charter schools that include City High-Middle School, a magnet school that is usually rated among the top high schools in the country. Catholic Central High School, the oldest co-educational Catholic high school in the country, is in Grand Rapids, along with other Catholic, Christian, or private K-12 options. National Heritage Academies, which operates charter schools in nine states, is headquartered in Grand Rapids.
As the second-largest city in Michigan, there are several colleges and universities in Grand Rapids, including some that are based in the city, while others have campuses there.
Grand Rapids Community College has its main campus in the city, as well as several other campuses throughout West Michigan. The main campus of Grand Valley State University is in Allendale, but it has a campus in downtown Grand Rapids. Ferris State University's main campus is in Big Rapids, with nineteen off-campus locations, including Grand Rapids. Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University, in Grand Rapids, was founded in 1928 as a private art academy and became part of Ferris State University in 2000. Grand Rapids is one of several regional sites of Western Michigan University, and the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine has a Grand Rapids campus at Michigan Street and Division Avenue, part of the Grand Rapids Medical Mile.
Several Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries are in Grand Rapids. Aquinas College is a Roman Catholic college in the city in 1888. Affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church, Calvin University was founded as Calvin College in 1876. Closely associated with Calvin University, Calvin Theological Seminary was founded at the same time, with the mission of preparing ministers for the Christian Reformed Church. Cornerstone University is a private, non-denominational Christian institution with two seminaries, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary and Asia Baptist Theological Seminary, the latter based in Thailand. Affiliated with Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary began as an evening Bible institute at Wealthy Street Baptist Church in 1941 and became a degree-granting institution in 1963. Grace Christian University is affiliated with Grace Gospel Fellowship, and awards associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees. Founded as Reformed Bible Institute in 1939, Kuyper College trains Christian leaders for ministry and service at its campus in Grand Rapids, although it also offers a range of degree programs in business, communication, education, social work, and others within a Reformed worldview. Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary is a conservative Reformed seminary in Grand Rapids that began in 1995 as an outgrowth of the Heritage Reformed Congregations.
These, and other schools, institutes, colleges, and universities in Grand Rapids, at whatever level, are appropriate for this category, along with early childhood education programs, childcare services, preschools, pre-kindergartens, and Montessori schools.
Other training programs, such as vocational schools, driver training programs, gun safety programs, first-aid and CPR courses, and other types of educational and instructional programs or facilities in Grand Rapids, Michigan, are appropriate for this category.
Recommended Resources
Founded as the Roman Catholic Novitiate Normal School in 1886, the school was moved from Traverse City to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1911, reorganizing and changing names a few times before taking its current name in 1939. Its admissions policies, academic calendar, exam schedules, staff contacts, and access to various forms are presented, along with its academic and athletics programs, a guide to student life at the college, and alumni resources. Applications may be made online.
http://www.aquinas.edu/
The private Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan is associated with the Christian Reformed Church and named for the 16th-century Protestant reformer, John Calvin. Directions, a map, school calendar, staff directory, and an introduction to its library and campus store are put forth, and its accreditation status is discussed. The institution's admissions policies, costs, and financial aid programs are featured, along with its arts, athletics, and student life programs.
https://calvin.edu/
Situated on Sheldon Boulevard in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Catholic Central is a college-preparatory school. Accredited by AdvancED, and a member of the National Catholic Education and the National Association of College Admission Counselors, the school offers more than ninety courses in ten departments, including twelve additional honors-level classes. Featured are a school profile, a virtual tour of the campus, and an overview of its academic and faith-based curriculum.
https://grcatholiccentral.org/
Formed in 1941, Cornerstone University is a private, non-denominational Christian institution in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with two undergraduate and graduate programs, two seminaries, and a radio division. Its undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs are featured, including its admissions policies, costs, financial aid options, and other resources. Applications may be made online. Its academics, athletics, and alumni services and programs are included.
https://www.cornerstone.edu/
Diamonds Sports Training Academy
The 40,000 square-foot baseball and softball training facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan includes a 150x100 field with field turf, seven batting cages, five pitching lanes, a sixty-yard dash runway, a weight room, pro shop, and a parent seating area with WiFi and flat-screen televisions. A full description of the facilities and its features is listed, including photographs, teams using the facilities, a list of sponsors, alumni, a contact form, and a map showing its location.
https://diamondstraining.com/
GCU began as an evening Bible institute in 1939, training Sunday school teachers and lay members of the Fundamental Bible Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1945, it became Milwaukee Bible Institute, and Milwaukee Bible College in 1953, and became Grace Bible College when it moved to Wyoming, Michigan in 1961, taking its current name in 2018. Situated on 23 acres in Grand Rapids, its academic programs, admissions policies, and student resources are posted to the site, which includes a store.
https://gracechristian.edu/
Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Grace Home School Association is an independent, non-profit, Christian-oriented association formed to promote homeschooling and to support homeschooling parents, providing regularly scheduled classes taught by qualified teachers for students who are unable to take such classes at home. Registration policies, the classes offered, class schedules, tuition help programs, and a calendar of events are posted, and an online portal is included.
http://www.gracehsaonline.org/
Grand Rapids Christian Schools
The private Christian school system operates Christian schools in Kent County, Michigan, most of them in Grand Rapids, where its headquarters are. Its campuses include Grand Rapids Christian Elementary School, with an Iroquois campus and an Evergreen campus, as well as Rockford Christian School, Grand Rapids Christian Middle School, and Grand Rapids Christian High School, each of which is highlighted here, along with its programs, admissions policies, and other resources.
https://www.grcs.org/
Grand Rapids Community College
GRCC was established as the first junior college in Michigan in 1914, operating out of Central High School until 1924, and currently has several campuses in West Michigan, with its main campus in Grand Rapids, where it also has downtown learning spaces. Applications may be made online, and prospective students may also schedule an appointment with an admissions specialist. Its programs are highlighted, and an academic calendar, its online learning programs, and other resources.
https://www.grcc.edu/
Grand Rapids Education Association
Affiliated with the Michigan Education Association and the National Education Association, the GREA represents more than 1,500 teachers and other education professionals who work for the Grand Rapids Public Schools system. Its officers, staff, boards, and committees are identified, and political action agendas, surveys, contract information, and a calendar of events are posted on the site. A private login is available for members, and dues may be paid.
http://www.grea.org/
Grand Rapids Public School District
GRPS is the eighth-largest public school district in Michigan and the third-largest employer in Grand Rapids, operating several elementary, K-8th grade, middle schools, high schools, special education programs, theme schools, charter schools, and other campuses and programs, each of which is highlighted here. Its history, policies, and leadership are discussed, along with parent resources, departmental information, its athletics programs, career opportunities, and a school calendar.
https://www.grps.org/
Offering Emergency Medical Services (EMS) training, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, and wilderness training, the EMS Academy Is on South Division Avenue in Great Lakes, Michigan. Its EMS training programs include that necessary to train students for licensure as an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-Basic) and as an EMT-Paramedic, both of which are described in detail here, including program schedules, prerequisites, and contacts for its EMT and other programs.
http://greatlakesems.com/
A program and service of Grand Rapids Community College, the Laboratory Preschool is a learning environment for college students enrolled in the Child Development curriculum, as well as a service to preschool-aged children, including infant, toddler, and preschool. Students engage in activities with children under the supervision of qualified teachers in a model early childhood program. Center information, a family handbook, and an electronic enrollment form are included.
https://www.grcc.edu/business-community/laboratory-preschool
Formed through the merger of Cutlerville Christian School and Kellogsville Christian School in 2006, its roots go back to 1893. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Legacy is a member of Christian Schools International and partners with South Christian High School, Explore and Grow, and Kids Rock Summer Camp. Its preschool, elementary, and middle school programs are featured, with enrollment information, costs and fees, tuition assistance, parent resources, and LCS handbook.
http://legacycs.org/
Literacy Center of West Michigan
Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the Literacy Center was founded in 1986 and offers a variety of literacy programs for adults who read below the 9th-grade level and/or who don't speak English as their first language, supported by volunteer tutors and financial donors and partners. Its board of directors, organizational structure, career information, and access to its strategic plan map, annual reports, and other documents. Schedules of events for learners and volunteers are included.
https://literacycenterwm.org/
Established by the Mayflower Congregational church in 1968, the Grand Rapids, Michigan preschool soon became a separate non-profit entity, and the school was accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children in 1993. Administered by the Mayflower Preschool Council, the school's location, programs, a school calendar of events, and grade-specific school newsletters are presented. Its sponsors are acknowledged, and students may be enrolled online.
https://www.mayflowerpreschool.org/
Formed as the Specialized Language Development Center, SLD Read is a non-profit community resource, based in Grand Rapids, but serving West Michigan, helping individuals with dyslexia, learning differences, and other reading challenges to develop their language skills through its multi-sensory program. The program also assists educators to identify learning challenges, providing training and techniques to enhance their reading curriculum, and increasing community awareness of literacy issues.
https://www.sldread.org/
With roots in a 1974 program known as Kid Power, it developed into a school in 1981 and moved to the former Southwest Christian School building a year later, the school currently offers an elementary, middle school, and high school curriculum, enrolling students from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures. Its elementary and middle school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, while it's high school is in nearby Wyoming, Michigan. Schedules and admissions policies are posted.
https://tphgr.org/
The non-profit Grand Rapids, Michigan organization provides one-on-one tutoring services for children and adults in reading, writing, and spelling, using the Orton-Gillingham approach, which is multi-sensory and phonetic, and also offers training for parents in this approach so that they can assist their home-schooled children. Its administrative staff and tutors are introduced, its board of directors is listed, and client testimonials are offered, and contacts are included.
https://www.turningpages.org/
