Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 51 schools in district

Alger Middle School

921 Alger St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507Grand Rapids Public Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
342
Students
Total enrolled
$19,814
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 38% vs nat'l
20.4 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 32% vs nat'l
35/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 30% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 342 students in grades 06–08 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
38% above average funding
District spends $19,814 per pupil, 38% more than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 35th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Alger Middle School is a mid-sized middle in Grand Rapids, Michigan, serving grades 06–08 with 342 students. The district invests $19,814 per student — 38% above the national average of $14,347, with a 20.4:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 95% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community. A neighborhood opportunity score of 35/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at Alger Middle School

342
Total Students
20.4 : 1
Student:Teacher
95%
Free Lunch
17
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution193 male · 149 female
56%
44%
Male 56%Female 44%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility95%
National avg 52% · 324 students
Student Composition
9%
16%
70%
White9%
Hispanic / Latino16%
Black70%
Multiracial4%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 261644008575

Academic Outcomes at Alger Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
35
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 35th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 10th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 49507

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$19,814Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$19,814
State avg
$37,188
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$8,718
Student Support$3,765
Administration$2,378
Operations$2,972
Other$1,981
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $19,814 spent per student, an estimated $8,778 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
46%
33%
State government
45.7%
Local (property tax)
32.7%
Federal programs
21.6%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $19,814/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-median neighborhood opportunity score (35/100) — national median is 50
  • 95% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Harrison Park AcademySouthwest Elementary Academia BilingueCA Frost Environmental Science Academy ElementaryCesar E Chavez Elementary
+15 more
↓
Middle
Burton Middle SchoolRiverside Middle School
↓
High School
Union High SchoolCity MiddleHighInnovation Central HighGrand Rapids University Preparatory Academy
+4 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyKent County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictGrand Rapids Public Schools →
Phone: (616)819-6200
NCES ID: 261644008575
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Grand Rapids seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Grand Rapids Public Schools
High
Union High School
922 students · 09–12
● 45 opp88% FRL
High
City MiddleHigh
908 students · 07–12
● 45 opp40% FRL
Elem
Harrison Park Academy
639 students · PK–08
● 45 opp93% FRL
Elem
Southwest Elementary Academia Bilingue
635 students · PK–06
● 33 opp80% FRL
High
Innovation Central High
523 students · 09–12
● 33 opp89% FRL
Mid
Burton Middle School
482 students · 06–08
● 35 opp89% FRL
High
Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy
466 students · 06–12
● 33 opp83% FRL
Elem
CA Frost Environmental Science Academy Elementary
448 students · PK–05
● 45 opp46% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
921 Alger St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.