Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

Summary:

Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy is a public magnet high school serving grades 6-12 in the diverse city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a student population that is predominantly African American and Hispanic.

The school stands out for its consistently high graduation rates, ranging from 96.9% to 100% over the past five years, which are significantly higher than the district and state averages. However, the school faces challenges, with lower test scores compared to the district and state, and a concerning increase in chronic absenteeism, from 19.1% in 2019-2020 to 51.4% in 2022-2023. When compared to nearby schools in the Grand Rapids Public Schools district, Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy generally performs worse on metrics like test scores and school rankings, but outperforms some in areas like graduation and dropout rates.

The school's diverse student population and high poverty levels, with 83.05% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in 2022-2023, may contribute to the challenges it faces. Addressing the racial and socioeconomic disparities, as well as the chronic absenteeism issue, could be key focus areas for the school and district to improve student outcomes. Despite these challenges, the school is providing valuable educational opportunities for its students, as evidenced by its strong graduation and low dropout rates.


Detail:

Public, Magnet 6-12

 512 Division Ave S
       Grand Rapids, MI  49503-5107


(616) 819-1010

District: Grand Rapids Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
562nd of 743 Michigan High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,433 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  16.2 Help
Number of students:  466

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
47.0%
African American:
42.9%
Two or more races:
5.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  83% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy ranks worse than 83.7% of middle schools in Michigan. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 15.83. (See more...)
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Compare Details Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy ranks worse than 75.6% of high schools in Michigan. It also ranks 5th among 9 ranked high schools in the Grand Rapids Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 24.26. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
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Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (47%), African American (42.9%), two or more races (5.4%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 83% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy is 16.2, which is the 3rd best among 9 high schools in the Grand Rapids Public Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy employs 28.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy is $16,433. 9 high schools in the Grand Rapids Public Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy 751st of 897 Michigan public middle schools. (See Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:

SchoolDigger ranks Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy 562nd of 743 Michigan public high schools. (See Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:


Grand Rapids Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Grand Rapids Public Schools 471st of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

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Compare

Rank History for all middle school students at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2011 16.95 781st 858 9.0%
2012 16.00 798th 900 11.3%
2013 14.61 806th 919 12.3%
2014 13.81 805th 921 12.6%
2015 16.95 759th 919 17.4%
2016 16.46 743rd 894 16.9%
2017 6.91 789th 821 3.9%
2018 13.03 757th 838 9.7%
2019 11.28 715th 792 9.7%
2022 15.24 668th 776 13.9%
2023 19.24 704th 883 20.3%
2024 15.83 751st 897 16.3%
See the entire list of Michigan High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school English Language Learner students at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.25 114th 154 26.0%
2024 46.19 43rd 88 51.1%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 17.71 695th 815 14.7%
2019 25.62 542nd 672 19.3%
2022 26.98 528th 691 23.6%
2023 26.91 621st 825 24.7%
2024 20.19 684th 836 18.2%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 10.61 719th 794 9.4%
2019 9.64 615th 658 6.5%
2022 11.21 612th 657 6.8%
2023 16.80 661st 770 14.2%
2024 18.75 643rd 771 16.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 15.27 678th 797 14.9%
2023 31.59 530th 776 31.7%
2024 14.28 685th 786 12.8%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 29.92 253rd 366 30.9%
2023 43.77 152nd 310 51.0%
2024 40.09 149th 300 50.3%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 14.17 248th 266 6.8%
2019 24.28 116th 137 15.3%
2022 26.98 101st 138 26.8%
2023 25.56 193rd 246 21.5%
2024 22.27 217th 257 15.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

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Compare

Rank History for all high school students at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2013 16.50 639th 805 20.6%
2014 13.21 660th 799 17.4%
2015 18.92 662nd 832 20.4%
2016 17.15 650th 852 23.7%
2017 12.34 640th 835 23.4%
2018 6.81 755th 824 8.4%
2019 4.60 638th 666 4.2%
2023 28.77 528th 735 28.2%
2024 24.26 562nd 743 24.4%
See the entire list of Michigan High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school English Language Learner students at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 53.98 17th 43 60.5%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 7.15 695th 755 7.9%
2019 5.11 509th 532 4.3%
2022 12.32 353rd 369 4.3%
2023 52.58 265th 614 56.8%
2024 38.60 392nd 654 40.1%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school Female students at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 3.60 680th 710 4.2%
2023 27.69 447th 611 26.8%
2024 17.44 510th 619 17.6%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for high school Male students at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 8.86 616th 707 12.9%
2019 7.32 510th 543 6.1%
2023 37.46 386th 611 36.8%
2024 35.39 406th 633 35.9%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for high school African American students at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 21.45 193rd 254 24.0%
2023 44.08 79th 170 53.5%
2024 48.49 80th 188 57.4%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for high school Hispanic students at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 5.81 194th 201 3.5%
2022 17.55 74th 83 10.8%
2023 77.93 31st 190 83.7%
2024 25.83 148th 195 24.1%
See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)
0%

0%

0%

0%

100%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Open Quote My child went to this high school. I had to remove her from this school because of the teachers did teach her the right material that she needed. In Mr.Williams wasnt doing his job at all. Thats why most of the children is at summer school right now. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2009 20 73 0 11 0 n/a n/a 11 115
2010 28 116 0 14 2 n/a n/a 20 180
2011 29 168 2 20 1 0 24 0 244
2012 32 210 2 27 0 0 27 0 298
2013 25 258 4 39 1 0 29 0 356
2014 33 274 3 62 2 0 36 0 410
2015 28 247 3 97 3 0 26 0 404
2016 31 234 4 109 2 0 27 0 407
2017 23 225 4 141 0 0 25 0 418
2018 16 216 3 168 2 0 27 0 432
2019 18 205 3 199 2 0 14 0 441
2020 19 199 4 219 0 0 18 0 459
2021 16 192 4 227 0 0 27 0 466
2022 16 195 3 214 0 0 21 0 449
2023 20 200 2 219 0 0 25 0 466

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2009 115 8.7 13.2 94.2
2010 180 13.5 13.3 96.3
2011 244 17.5 13.9 86.9
2012 298 21.8 13.6 79.9
2013 356 25.3 14.0 80.6
2014 410 35.9 11.4 76.3
2015 404 28.0 14.4 80.9
2016 407 26.0 15.6 78.1
2017 418 26.2 15.9 82.8
2018 432 27.2 15.8 82.4
2019 441 27.2 16.2 81.4
2020 459 28.7 15.9 86.5
2021 466 30.2 15.4 89.7
2022 449 29.2 15.3 90
2023 466 28.6 16.2 83

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2009 115 8.7 13.2 94.2
2010 180 13.5 13.3 96.3
2011 244 17.5 13.9 86.9
2012 298 21.8 13.6 79.9
2013 356 25.3 14.0 80.6
2014 410 35.9 11.4 76.3
2015 404 28.0 14.4 80.9
2016 407 26.0 15.6 78.1
2017 418 26.2 15.9 82.8
2018 432 27.2 15.8 82.4
2019 441 27.2 16.2 81.4
2020 459 28.7 15.9 86.5
2021 466 30.2 15.4 89.7
2022 449 29.2 15.3 90
2023 466 28.6 16.2 83

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,873 (13.7%) $11,758 (86.3%) $13,631
2020 $1,516 (11.1%) $12,182 (88.9%) $13,697
2021 $1,939 (13.8%) $12,101 (86.2%) $14,040
2022 $3,738 (22.5%) $12,904 (77.5%) $16,642
2023 $3,708 (22.6%) $12,725 (77.4%) $16,433

Data source: Michigan Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 715th of 792 Middle schoolsRanks 704th of 883 Middle schools
 10.5%
Ranks 638th of 666 High schoolsRanks 528th of 735 High schools
 24%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy)14.136.7
 22.6%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Grand Rapids Public Schools)24.926
 1.1%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)41.737.5
 4.2%
6th Grade Math (Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy)8.517.2
 8.7%
   6th Grade Math (Grand Rapids Public Schools)16.213.4
 2.8%
   6th Grade Math (Michigan)35.129.6
 5.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy)12.230
 17.8%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Grand Rapids Public Schools)23.924.4
 0.5%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)42.736.9
 5.8%
7th Grade Math (Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy)5.48.3
 2.9%
   7th Grade Math (Grand Rapids Public Schools)1515.4
 0.4%
   7th Grade Math (Michigan)35.731
 4.7%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy)5027.7
 22.3%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Grand Rapids Public Schools)43.143.3
 0.2%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)61.959.7
 2.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy)22.46.2
 16.2%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Grand Rapids Public Schools)23.418.9
 4.5%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Michigan)41.436.3
 5.1%
11th Grade Social Studies (Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy)14.629
 14.4%
   11th Grade Social Studies (Grand Rapids Public Schools)3229.6
 2.4%
   11th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)46.636.1
 10.5%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy)20.838.7
 17.9%
   11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Grand Rapids Public Schools)38.942
 3.1%
   11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Michigan)55.352.2
 3.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students441466
 5.7%
African American205200
 2.4%
American Indian20
 100%
Asian32
 33.3%
Hispanic199219
 10.1%
Pacific Islander00
White1820
 11.1%
Two or More Races1425
 78.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients81.4%83%
 1.6%


Schools Near Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy









Frequently Asked Questions about Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy

Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy ranks in the bottom 24.4% of Michigan high schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 466 students attended Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy.

Students at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy are 47% Hispanic, 43% African American, 5% Two or more races, 4% White.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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