Transfer to a GRPS School
Thank you for making Grand Rapids Public Schools your choice. As a district, we pride ourselves on providing one of the largest comprehensive school choice selections for students in preschool through 12th grade. We invite families within our district and out of district to explore our school choices through the school transfer process.
Transfer with the School of Choice Plan
Application Window: April 14 - May 16, 2025
GRPS participates in the Kent Intermediate School District Collaborative School of Choice Plan. Scholars who apply for the School of Choice Plan must be a resident of a district that the Kent ISD serves. For more information on participating districts and deadlines, view School of Choice Plan details and deadlines on the Kent ISD website.
Scholars residing in contiguous intermediate school districts bordering the Kent ISD such as Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Ottawa, Coopersville, Allendale, Tri-County, and Grant, may apply through Schools of Choice 105c. Written agreement between the resident district and the choice district must be in place for scholars who receive special education services. If a written cooperative agreement regarding costs cannot be obtained, the Schools of Choice application will be declined.
The application deadline for the School of Choice Plan is set by Kent ISD. The 2025-2026 Schools of Choice application window is April 14 - May 16, 2025; seats not filled during the initial application period will remain available until August 18, 2025. Once a student is accepted, there is no need to apply every year. Only one application is required per child.
A few important notes about the School of Choice Plan:
- If space allows, applicants who have a sibling attending GRPS may be given priority.
- Our district may refuse to enroll an applicant who has been suspended, expelled, or convicted of a felony.
- Parents will be notified by mail if a student is accepted.
- Parents must confirm the decision to attend by signing a Notification of Acceptance form agreeing to the Choice district's policies.
- We do not guarantee placement at a specific school.
- School of Choice slots not filled during the initial application period remain open.
- Special Education scholars wishing to enroll under Section 105c for whom a cooperative agreement regarding cost cannot be obtained with their district of residence will be refused School of Choice.
- If a Choice scholar breaks enrollment, they will need to reapply if they wish to re-enroll at GRPS.
- Transportation is not provided for School of Choice scholars; parents are responsible for providing transportation.
The application is available online beginning April 14, 2025. For questions, please email enrollment@grps.org or call our office at 616-819-2150.
Transfer with a Non-Resident Enrollment Request (Section 6)
Scholars who live outside of the Kent ISD, or scholars who live within the Kent ISD but have not completed a School of Choice application, may apply to attend GRPS through a Non-Resident Enrollment Request (Section 6). To complete the application, click the button below to download and fill out the PDF form. After completion, please email your form to enrollment@grps.org or deliver a hard copy by mail to the Community & Student Services department at 1331 Martin Luther King Jr St SE.
Non-Resident Enrollment Request Form:
Download the Non-Resident Enrollment Request Form
Please note that transportation will not be provided for scholars on Section 6 release. It is only valid for one school year. If the release is approved, the parent/guardian will have to reapply the following school year.
Complete the In-District Transfer Form
GRPS scholars interested in attending a neighborhood school different from the one to which they are assigned may apply for an in-district transfer to another GRPS neighborhood school. (This process does not apply to theme schools.)
To complete the transfer request, please download and complete the form. After completion, email it to enrollment@grps.org or deliver a hard copy by mail to the Community & Student Services department at 1331 Martin Luther King Jr St SE. You may also bring the completed form to the neighborhood school the scholar is interested in attending.
A few important notes about the In-District Transfer Process:
- In order to process a scholar transfer, the receiving school must be able to accept the additional scholar without exceeding operational limits for staffing and classroom size.
- Transportation for a scholar on an approved transfer is not provided.
- A transfer can be revoked for any of the following reasons:
- Repeated or flagrant violations of school rules, such as chronic absenteeism, tardiness, behavior, or other administrative decisions.
- Incomplete, inaccurate, or false statements were made during the transfer request process.
- If it is found that the transfer request was made solely for athletic reasons. This is a violation of MHSAA Code; if detected, the transfer will be terminated immediately.
- The stated reason for transfer is no longer valid.
- The student does not perform satisfactorily.
Contact Us
Community & Student Services
Email enrollment@grps.org
Call 616-819-2150