Palmer Elementary Building
GRPS Expo & Information Fair Join us on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at GRPS University and learn more about the region’s largest, most comprehensive selection of school choices offered at GRPS.
Previous Next

Welcome to Palmer Elementary (PK-5)

I take great pride in serving as the Principal of Palmer Elementary. As one of the cultural centers in GRPS, we embody a diverse scholar population representing many countries and languages. Each of our scholars is unique, and our knowledgeable staff strives to provide them with an individualized academic experience that is challenging and robust. Our goal is simple: prepare our scholars for success today and into their future. 

Interested in becoming part of the Palmer family? Please contact our school to set up a time to visit. We hope a tour of our school will help you determine if Palmer is the ideal fit for you and your scholar. 

Leanne Opoka Lange
Principal

School Apps

Palmer Elementary

309 Palmer St. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Phone: 616-819-2929
Leanne Opoka Lange
Principal
Joan Day
Head Secretary

School Hours

Breakfast 8:00 a.m.
Start Time 8:30 a.m.
Dismissal 3:28 p.m.
Half Day Dismissal 11:40 a.m. 

Palmer: Where school and community are one.

Palmer Elementary is a neighborhood school located on the northeast side of Grand Rapids. We are nestled in the Creston Neighborhood and embrace the community feel in our school program. We believe in building leadership and responsibility among our scholars through the implementation of our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) initiatives. As one of the district’s cultural centers, we encompass a diverse scholar population which represents multiple countries and languages. Our strong community partnerships provide academic and enrichment opportunities for all scholars. 

The dedicated staff at Palmer strive to deliver equitable and rigorous instruction for all scholars. At Palmer we are a family dedicated to creating a safe and welcoming environment that is conducive to learning. We are the HAWKS! We are Honest, Accountable, Welcoming, Kind, and Safe. 

We have incorporated distance learning for years and are poised to be a leader in the district as a blended model of new technologies and old practices, giving our students the best of both worlds. Our 1-to-1 student technology device approach ensures that every student has the opportunity to learn inside and outside the classroom.

Calendar
Last Month Previous December 2025 Next Next Month
S M T W T F S
  1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17
18
19
20
21 22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
     
Winning the Frame: An Inside Look at the Bengals Bowling Team

At Ottawa Hills, bowling is more than a pastime. It’s a disciplined sport, a mental game, and a lifestyle for bowlers on the team. 

Righting an injustice: Cleo Cross presented with diploma six decades after graduation

Cleo Cross was a standout basketball player at South High School with plans to continue his career in college when, in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, he made a choice to take a stand that cost him his diploma for nearly six decades.

Fast and Ferocious: Bengals Basketball Ready to Return to the Court

The Ottawa Hills Bengals approach the 2025-2026 season with fresh determination and a clear sense of what they want to achieve.