Facility Plan by Building

For Aberdeen Academy families, PreK-5 scholars will transition to a new elementary school behind the current building starting in the fall of 2027. The new school will be named Aberdeen Elementary School.
 
Our sixth through eighth-grade scholars transitioned to Innovation Central Middle School for the 2026-27 school year.
 
Following the 2026-27 school year, the former Aberdeen Academy will be demolished. Elements of the former building will be saved and displayed within the new elementary school.

BUILDING FACTS:

• Built: 1929
• Deferred maintenance: $6.6 million
• Routine maintenance: $185,300 / Year
• 2022 Facility Condition Assessment Ranking: 51 out of 58 
• Utilization: 46%
• Capacity: 552
• Percentage of district capacity: 2%

OTHER KEY FACTORS:

• Building does not have air conditioning.

Alexander is a GRPS-owned building that closed as a school in 2010. 
 
After collecting neighborhood feedback and receiving multiple proposals, the Grand Rapids Board of Education voted in June 2026 to sell the property to Cross Contracting LLC.

Alger Middle School scholars transitioned to Ottawa Hills High School for the 2026-27 school year. The new middle school is named Ottawa Hills Middle School.
 
The transition means stronger academic programs with new elective choices and better access to fine arts. Scholars will enjoy upgraded space at Ottawa Hills and preparation for the high school experience.
 
The high school and middle school at Ottawa Hills have separate entrances while experiencing the benefit of sharing resources for our scholars.
 
The Alger building is being renovated while empty during the 2026-27 school year to transition to a new elementary school. Scholars and staff from Brookside Elementary School will transition to the building starting in the 2027-28 school year. The school will be named Alger Elementary School.
 
Renovations focus on meeting standards for elementary scholars, including adding two new playgrounds, interior finish upgrades, removing some lockers, and adding bathrooms to classrooms.

Beckwith is a GRPS-owned building that currently houses some GRPS staff.
 
We will gather neighborhood feedback as we imagine what the future of the Beckwith site might look like. Considerations could include affordable family housing, green space, parkland, or other uses that would benefit the community and the school district as a whole.

The Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative will have a significant impact districtwide, though none of the changes will impact the operations of the Blandford program.

Brookside Elementary School will move to the former Alger Middle School building starting with the 2027-28 school year. Our school will be named Alger Elementary School.

The Alger building is being renovated to meet the standards for elementary scholars, including adding two new playgrounds, interior finish upgrades, removing some lockers, and adding bathrooms to classrooms.

The district will then gather feedback from the community in determining what would happen next for the Brookside location. Considerations could include affordable family housing, green space, parkland, or other uses that would benefit the community and the school district as a whole.

BUILDING FACTS:

• Built: 1954
• Deferred maintenance: $6.7 million
• Routine maintenance: $152,800 / Year
• 2022 Facility Condition Assessment Ranking: 17 out of 58
• Utilization: 65%
• Capacity: 432
• Percentage of district capacity: 1.5%

OTHER KEY FACTORS:

• Program will move to nearby Alger building, ranked 7th in facility condition assessment.

There are upgrades coming to Burton Middle School and Burton Elementary School. In the summer of 2026 a new air conditioning chiller system was installed. There are plans in place to renovate our historic performing arts auditorium.

The Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative will have a significant impact districtwide, though none of the changes will impact the operations of CA Frost.

The Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative will have a significant impact districtwide, though none of the changes will impact the operations of CA Frost.

Significant renovations are scheduled to occur at Campus Elementary as part of the Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative. Specific plans will be shared as we near construction.

Upgrades coming to City High Middle School will directly benefit Center for Economicology scholars. Plans include renovating the pool and auditorium at City.

The Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative will have a significant impact districtwide, though none of the changes will impact the operations of César E. Chávez Elementary School.

Upgrades to our building include improvements to the playground and flooring replacement.

Exciting building upgrades are coming for City High Middle School. Plans include renovations to the auditorium and pool at City.

Coit Creative Arts Academy received air conditioning upgrades, interior finish improvements, and a new fully-accessible playground. Work as part of the Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative is now complete.

Congress Elementary received a new parking lot in the summer of 2025 as part of the Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative.

The proposed recommendations would include additional building renovations for Congress families in the coming years. The specific deferred maintenance projects will be determined at a later date. As those details come together we will share them with you.

Dickinson Academy received an upgraded safe and secure entrance in the summer of 2025.

East Leonard Elementary closed following the 2023-24 school year. East Leonard scholars relocated to nearby Coit Creative Arts Academy and Kent Hills Elementary.
 
Currently the building is being leased by the Grand Rapids Fire Department.
 
Next, GRPS will begin the process of gathering feedback from the community on what should happen with the East Leonard site in the future. Considerations could include affordable family housing, green space, parkland, or other uses that would benefit the community and the school district as a whole.
 

BUILDING FACTS:

• Built: 1957
• Deferred maintenance: $4.9 million
• Routine maintenance: $135,900 / Year
• 2022 Facility Condition Assessment Ranking: 45 out of 58 
• Utilization: 51%
• Capacity: 312
• Percentage of district capacity: 1.3%

OTHER KEY FACTORS:

• Nearby GRPS options in better condition: Coit, Kent Hills.

The Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative will have a significant impact districtwide, though none of the changes will impact the operations at Gerald R. Ford Academic Center.
 
Ford Academic Center is receiving a new playground in the summer of 2026 thanks to a partnership with the GRPS Foundation.

The Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative will have a significant impact districtwide, though none of the changes are expected to impact the operations of the Grand Rapids Learning Center.

PK-6 scholars at Grand Rapids Montessori Academy will join PK-6 scholars from North Park Montessori Academy in the 2028-29 school year at a new Montessori campus located at the former Riverside Middle School site.

A significant renovation is underway at the Riverside building to become the new home for our Montessori programming.

During the 2028-29 school year, the Fountain building will be renovated to become the new home of Grand Rapids Montessori Middle High School.

After years of Montessori middle high program sharing space with other programs, we will move into the Fountain building starting in the 2029-30 school year. The Fountain building will be home for all 7-12 grade Montessori programming at GRPS. The building will be significantly renovated during the 2028-29 school year, upgrading classrooms, replacing windows, adding an elevator, and creating a new safe and secure entrance.

GRPS University is a district facility that is currently utilized for meeting space and athletic events. No significant upgrades are currently planned for the building.

The Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative will have a significant impact districtwide, though none of the changes are expected to impact the operations of Grand Rapids Public Museum Middle School.

The Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative will have a significant impact districtwide, though none of the changes are expected to impact the operations of Grand Rapids Public Museum High School.

A significant addition is underway at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy that includes a new gymnasium and additional classrooms. This project is being led by the Grand Rapids University Preparatory Association and does not use funding from the Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative.

Planned renovations at Harrison Park include upgrades to the heating and cooling systems, cafeteria and playground.

Renovations were completed at historic Houseman Field in 2025. The upgrades include a new playing turf and running track, expanded parking, new field lighting, locker room acoustical improvements, and masonry restoration. You can learn more about the project here.

Renovations were completed in 2026 on the historic Betty Bloomer Ford Auditorium. 

As part of the Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative, scholars and staff from Riverside Middle School transitioned to our building, creating a new Innovation Central Middle School.

A new environmental science academy will open at Ken-O-Sha Park for the 2027-28 school year, allowing scholars to step outside and learn about the world around them along Plaster Creek. The building is currently going through extensive renovations to prepare for this new academy.
 
Scholars from Our Sherwood Park Global Studies will also relocate to this campus, bringing two world-class programs together in a unique and newly renovated space for growth and learning.

Kent Hills underwent significant renovations in the summer of 2026 including interior finishes, bathroom renovations, and a new fully accessible playground.

The Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative will have a significant impact districtwide, though none of the changes are expected to impact the operations of Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Academy.

A significant renovation is planned for Mulick Park Elementary. The current timeline would be to have the renovation work ready for scholars in the fall of 2030.

The Grand Rapids Montessori Academy and North Park Montessori Academy PK-6 programs will come together in a renovated space at the former Riverside Middle School location starting in the 2028-29 school year.
 
A significant renovation will be made to the Riverside building prior to the move to prepare the space for our Montessori programming.

Once closed, GRPS will gather neighborhood feedback as we imagine what the future of the North Park site might look like. Considerations could include affordable family housing, green space, parkland, or other uses that would benefit the community and the school district as a whole.

BUILDING FACTS:

• Built: 1908
• Deferred maintenance: $5.6 million
• Routine maintenance: $174,000 / Year
• 2022 Facility Condition Assessment Ranking: 40 out of 58 
• Utilization: 84%
• Capacity: 456
• Percentage of district capacity: 1.7%

The Grand Rapids Montessori Academy and North Park Montessori Academy PK-6 programs will come together in a renovated space at the former Riverside Middle School location starting in the 2028-29 school year.
 
A significant renovation will be made to the Riverside building prior to the move to prepare the space for our Montessori programming.

Once closed, GRPS will gather neighborhood feedback as we imagine what the future of the North Park Wellerwood site might look like. Considerations could include affordable family housing, green space, parkland, or other uses that would benefit the community and the school district as a whole.

BUILDING FACTS:

• Built: 1959
• Deferred maintenance: $3.9 million
• Routine maintenance: $72,100 / Year
• 2022 Facility Condition Assessment Ranking: 5 out of 58 
• Utilization: 100%
• Capacity: 192
• Percentage of district capacity: 0.8%

OTHER KEY FACTORS:

• Program will join other Montessori programs in renovated space at Riverside school site.

The plan will bring more scholars and staff together at the Ottawa Hills campus.
 
Scholars and staff from Alger Middle School joined our campus starting in the 2026-27 school year. This new middle school is named Ottawa Hills Middle School. This would allow for more music, fine arts, and athletics opportunities for scholars.
 
Plans also include a renovation of the Ottawa Hills auditorium, pool, and outdoor athletic facilities.

Palmer Elementary School will close following the 2026-27 school year.

At that time our scholars will relocate to the new Aberdeen Elementary School or Kent Hills Elementary.

Once Palmer Elementary closes, we will gather neighborhood feedback as we imagine what the future of the Palmer site might look like. Considerations could include affordable family housing, green space, parkland, or other uses that would benefit the community and the school district as a whole.  

BUILDING FACTS:

• Built: 1954
• Deferred maintenance: $3.7 million
• Routine maintenance: $153,600 / Year
• 2022 Facility Condition Assessment Ranking: 35 out of 58 
• Utilization: 53%
• Capacity: 336
• Percentage of district capacity: 1.4%

OTHER KEY FACTORS:

• Nearby GRPS options in better condition: Kent Hills, new school at Aberdeen.
• Building is landlocked without a parking lot.

Renovations and an addition are planned for Ridgemoor Park Montessori Academy. Plans include upgrades to classrooms, new breakout spaces, an addition, and upgraded playground.

Riverside Middle School scholars and staff transitioned to the Innovation Central High School campus starting in the 2025-26 school year.

The building is currently undergoing significant renovations to become the new home of PK-6 Montessori programming on the north side of the city starting in the 2028-29 school year.

Roosevelt Park is a GRPS-owned building that has previously been leased to other programs in recent years.
 
We will gather neighborhood feedback as we imagine what the future of the Roosevelt Park site might look like. Considerations could include affordable family housing, green space, parkland, or other uses that would benefit the community and the school district as a whole.

The Shawmut Hills parking lot was replaced in the summer of 2025.

The current Sherwood Park Global Studies building will close following the 2026-27 school year. Scholars and staff will then transition to the renovated Ken-O-Sha Park campus. The new Ken-O-Sha campus will be home to both a new environment science program and the International Baccalaureate Global Studies program, bringing two world-class programs together in a unique and newly renovated space for growth and learning.
 
We will gather neighborhood feedback as we imagine what the future of the Sherwood Park site might look like. Considerations could include affordable family housing, green space, parkland, or other uses that would benefit the community and the school district as a whole.

BUILDING FACTS:

• Built: 1969
• Deferred maintenance: $9.1 million
• Routine maintenance: $227,900 / Year
• 2022 Facility Condition Assessment Ranking: 29 out of 58 
• Utilization: 23%
• Capacity: 552
• Percentage of district capacity: 2.2%

OTHER KEY FACTORS:

• Program will move to nearby renovated Ken-O-Sha Park, which has a more desired site near Plaster Creek.

Upgrades are now complete at Sibley Elementary School, including flooring and roof upgrades.

A $7 million renovation converted the former Sigsbee Elementary School into a vibrant high school environment as the new home of Southeast Career Pathways starting in the 2025-26 school year. You can learn more about the project here.

A $7 million renovation converted the former Sigsbee Elementary School into a vibrant high school environment as the new home of Southeast Career Pathways starting in the 2025-26 school year. You can learn more about the project here.

The Jefferson building is currently being leased to outside programs.

 
Next, we will begin the process of gathering feedback from the community on what would happen with the Jefferson building site in the future. Considerations could include affordable family housing, green space, parkland, or other uses that would benefit the community and the school district as a whole.

BUILDING FACTS:

• Built: 1967
• Deferred maintenance: $6.6 million
• Routine maintenance: $138,900 / Year
• 2022 Facility Condition Assessment Ranking: 40 out of 58
• Utilization: 26%
• Capacity: 350
• Percentage of district capacity: 1.4%

OTHER KEY FACTORS:

• Building does not have air conditioning.
• Program will move to renovated space at Sigsbee site.

Plans include a complete renovation of Southwest Elementary School Academia Bilingüe. That work is currently scheduled to be complete by 2030. As those specific details come together we will share them with you.

Southwest Middle High School Academia Bilingüe opened in 2021. No upgrades are currently planned to our new building.

Stocking Elementary closed following the 2023-24 school year. Stocking scholars relocated to nearby Harrison Park Academy and Sibley Elementary.

After collecting neighborhood feedback and receiving multiple proposals, the Grand Rapids Board of Education voted in June 2026 to sell the property to Commonwealth Development Corporation.

BUILDING FACTS:

• Built: 1923
• Deferred maintenance: $7 million
• Routine maintenance: $147,800 / Year
• 2022 Facility Condition Assessment Ranking: 42 out of 58 
• Utilization: 28%
• Capacity: 504
• Percentage of district capacity: 2.2%

OTHER KEY FACTORS:

• Building does not have air conditioning.
• Nearby GRPS options in better condition: Harrison Park, Sibley.

The Straight School building is home to our Native American Education Program, Special Education staff, Mental Health clinicians, and Social and Emotional Learning team. No upgrades are currently planned for the building.

Union High School will receive multiple upgrades as part of the Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative. The plan also calls for scholars and staff rom Westwood Middle School to join us at Union High School. 

The middle and high schools would have separate and distinct entrances and spaces, but would be able to share services. This will allow for more music, fine arts, and athletics opportunities for scholars at Union.
 
Additional renovations include upgrades to the auditorium, pool, and outdoor athletic facilities.

As part of the Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative, Westwood Middle School scholars will transition to the Union High School campus.
 
This will mean a stronger academic program with new elective choices and better access to fine arts. The high school and middle school at Union will have separate entrances while experiencing the benefit of sharing resources for our scholars.
 
We would then begin the process of gathering feedback from the community on what would happen with the Westwood site in the future. Considerations could include affordable family housing, green space, parkland, or other uses that would benefit the community and the school district as a whole.

BUILDING FACTS:

• Built: 1960
• Deferred maintenance: $12.9 million
• Routine maintenance: $356,700 / Year
• 2022 Facility Condition Assessment Ranking: 45 out of 58 
• Utilization: 19%
• Capacity: 810
• Percentage of district capacity: 3%

OTHER KEY FACTORS:

• Program will move to space at nearby Union campus, mirroring MS/HS campuses in other quadrants.

The Reimagine GRPS with Us! initiative will have a significant impact districtwide, though none of the changes will impact the operations of Zoo School.