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

Blandford School
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.
School Transparency
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
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22 May
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City High Middle School Graduation Ceremony 7:00 PM to 8:00 PMCity High Middle School Graduation CeremonyDate: May 22Time: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PMLocation: Houseman Field, 162 Houseman Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USACalendar: GRPS District Calendar
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23 May
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Half Day for Scholars | No School (pm)Date: May 23Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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26 May
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No School | No LOOP Programming | Memorial DayDate: May 26Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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28 May
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Grand Rapids Learning Center Graduation Ceremony 6:00 PM to 7:00 PMGrand Rapids Learning Center Graduation CeremonyDate: May 28Time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PMLocation: Spectrum Theater, 160 Fountain St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USACalendar: GRPS District Calendar
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3 Junthru Jun 5
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Half Day for Scholars | Exams (am); No School (pm)Date: Jun 3 - Jun 5Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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5 Jun
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LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR SCHOLARSDate: Jun 5Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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18 Aug
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First Day of 2025-2026 School YearDate: Aug 18Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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Due to the forecasted weather, Thursday's graduation ceremonies will be held indoors at the Ottawa Hills High School Gymnasium.

Southwest Middle High School Academia Bilingüe seniors started their graduation day by returning to the place many of them started their education, Southwest Elementary School Academia Bilingüe.

Celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2025 by tuning in to live streams of every GRPS graduation ceremony! Friends, families, and community members can watch each event in real time at live.grps.org. Spanish interpretation is available.