Welcome to Blandford School (6)

Welcome and thank you for choosing GRPS and Blandford School. It is my honor and privilege to serve as the Principal of Blandford. Our staff is dedicated to helping each child reach their fullest potential and become independent, self-driven learners. We are fortunate to have Blandford Nature Center in our backyard which invites our scholars and staff to explore learning and use nature as their classroom. 

If you are interested in learning more about the rigor and zeal of Blandford School, please contact us directly at 616-819-2555. We'd be happy to show you around the school!

Principal
Karla Finn

School Apps

Blandford School

3143 Milo St. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49534
Phone: 616-819-2555
Karla Finn
Principal
Nicolette Ferguson
Head Secretary

School Hours

Breakfast 7:50 a.m.
Start Time 8:10 a.m.
Dismissal 3:08 p.m.
Half Day Dismissal 11:20 a.m. 

At Blandford, nature is your classroom! 

Blandford is a 6th grade program that offers outdoor learning experiences and a rigorous curriculum. The school is designed to heighten an awareness of the environment, stimulate creative thinking, develop leadership, promote intellectual growth, and increase self-esteem. Our Blandford staff is committed to fostering your child's potential to learn and achieve through a learning environment that values hands-on, project-based learning experiences. Scholars are provided with exciting challenges and opportunities for a once-in-a-lifetime educational experience that focuses on nature and the great outdoors. 

The Blandford "classroom" consists of over 100 acres of ponds, streams, woods, and fields along with a more traditional classroom that supports the outdoor theme. Attracting students from public and non-public schools throughout Grand Rapids, as well as a handful of students from nearby cities, the student body at Blandford is a heterogeneous mixture of ethnic, economic, and social backgrounds. 

While we have too many special projects and programs to name them all, a few highlights include:

  • chicken adoption
  • International Night dinner
  • performance of A Christmas Carol
  • fall and spring camp
  • Wildflower Tea
  • BEEP Bazaar 

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.

Blandford School is located in a state of the art, LEED certified facility on the Northwest side of Grand Rapids. This building, along with Blandford Nature Center’s 143 acres of ponds, streams, woods, and fields, offers students an unparalleled learning environment.  Scholars will enjoy their collaborative learning experience by sharing two classrooms and a large meeting space both indoors and outside in nature.

Blandford School Photo Tour


  • 15 Apr
    • New NE Elementary School Community Meeting
      Date: Apr 15
      Time: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
      Location: Aberdeen Academy, 928 Aberdeen St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505, USA
      Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
  • 25 Apr
    • North Park Montessori 100th Anniversary Celebration
      Date: Apr 25
      Time: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
      Location: North Park Montessori Academy, 3375 Cheney Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525, USA
      Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
  • 30 Apr
    • Notice of Public Hearing: Native American Education Program
      Date: Apr 30
      Time: 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
      Location: Straight School, 850 Chatham NW
      Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
      Native American Parents, Native American Students and the General Public are invited to share recommendations regarding programs and services to meet the special needs of Native American students in Grand Rapids Public Schools. The input will be used to develop the district’s application for federal funding for the 2025-2026 school year.
  • 19 May
    • CA Frost Middle High School Graduation Ceremony
      Date: May 19
      Time: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
      Location: Houseman Field, 162 Houseman Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
      Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
    • Union High School Graduation Ceremony
      Date: May 19
      Time: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
      Location: Houseman Field, 162 Houseman Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
      Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
  • 20 May
  • 21 May
    • Ottawa Hills High School Graduation Ceremony
      Date: May 21
      Time: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
      Location: Houseman Field, 162 Houseman Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
      Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
    • Grand Rapids Public Museum High School Graduation Ceremony
      Date: May 21
      Time: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
      Location: Houseman Field, 162 Houseman Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
      Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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