Welcome to Grand Rapids Public Museum Middle School (6-8)
Welcome to the Grand Rapids Public Museum Middle School! Formed in partnership with the Grand Rapids Public Museum, Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University, and Grand Valley State University College of Education, our unique learning approach focuses on community-based projects that incorporate design thinking and place-based education. Everything we do is geared toward empowering scholars to become leaders and change-makers in their communities.
Scholars at the Museum Middle School attend classes within the amazing Grand Rapids Public Museum. They engage with museum staff, exhibits, and programs through hands-on collaborative projects. Interested in learning more? Give us a call!
Principal
Christopher Hanks, Ph.D.

Grand Rapids Public Museum Middle School
School Hours
Breakfast 7:50 a.m.
Start Time 8:10 a.m.
Dismissal 3:06 p.m.
Half Day Dismissal 11:20 a.m.
School Transparency
Bringing community to the classroom and the classroom to the community.
Grand Rapids Public Museum Middle School serves scholars in grades 6 through 8 with programming that combines design thinking, place-based education, and museum methods and environmental learning. Scholars experience integrated content across subject areas and blend classroom activities with community-based experiential projects. Embracing the XQ Institute Learning Goals, we pursue a mission “to inspire, develop, and educate the next generation of confident, creative thinkers, doers, and leaders.”
Our Mission:
The mission of Grand Rapids Public Museum School is to use place-bacsed design thinking and the museum context to create learning experiences that develop confident, creative, and competent thinkers, doers, and leaders.
Here, all learners will: master fundamental competencies, improve through iteration, enrich their communities, and understand and pursue their best selves.
Core Competencies: Read Critically; Reason Quantitatively; Learn Independently; Lead Inquiry; Explore Social Phenomena; Communicate Effectively; Collaborate on Teams; Build Community; Design Solutions; Develop Self-Knowledge; Cultivate Well-Being; and Think and Act Globally
Learners at the Middle School have the unique opportunity to access the programs and exhibits within the Museum. This allows scholars to have a close-up view of the history or science that they are learning in a hands-on way. When our scholars are learning about geography they are able to see items from the various places they are studying not just see the name on a map. When scholars are researching innovation, they are able to access artifacts from the archive that give them a full view of how an item evolved into what they know today. When they are exploring photosynthesis they are working with thought leaders in the community to design systems to grow plants in urban environments, in space or without traditional methods.
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.
Museum Middle School Photo Tour
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30 Mar
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No LOOP ProgrammingDate: Mar 30Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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31 Marthru Apr 7
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No School; No LOOP Programming - Spring BreakDate: Mar 31 - Apr 7Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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7 Apr
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Theme School Application Period Closes (3rd Round)Date: Apr 7Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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8 Apr
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Theme School Application Period Opens (4th Round)Date: Apr 8Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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20 Apr
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GRCC Community Fair 6:00 PM to 8:00 PMGRCC Community FairDate: Apr 20Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PMCalendar: GRPS District Calendar
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11 May
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Last Day of Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) PreschoolDate: May 11Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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Family & Community Engagement (F.A.C.E.) Volunteer Celebration 5:30 PM to 7:00 PMFamily & Community Engagement (F.A.C.E.) Volunteer CelebrationDate: May 11Time: 5:30 PM to 7:00 PMCalendar: GRPS District Calendar
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18 May
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LOOP Collaborative Youth FairDate: May 18Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
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Cornelia Steketee's life was anything but typical. She was a teacher, an author, a social advocate, and, on occasion, a politician.

Scholar-led committees planned events and created decorations during Black History Month at City High Middle School

Back in person for the first time since 2020, the annual event helped scholars consider challenges, choices and changes.