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For this longtime family, GRPS is part of their ‘family forever’

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

The district’s 150th anniversary has crept up quietly due to the pandemic, but celebrations are coming later in the year...

A promise fulfilled: first grad from scholarship program already in workforce

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

The first student to graduate from Grand Rapids Community College as part of the Promise Zone scholarship program already has a job and big things lined up for the future...

The year of learning virtually: a challenge for students and teachers alike

School 2.0 Charles Honey

Local districts are making adjustments to better serve their online students, even as more return to classrooms...

New director named to lead arts and technology center

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

Jamon Alexander, the new president and CEO of West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology (WMCAT), says he aims to lead the nonprofit’s programs for teens and adults through the challenges of cultural change brought on by the pandemic...

Move to four days a week in person delayed by one week due to increased COVID cases

School 2.0 Phil de Haan

GRPS students in grades K-8 who were in person for learning just two days a week will have a choice to be in class four days a week or go to all-virtual learning starting in April...

Fighting illness with air handling

School 2.0 Phil de Haan

Across Kent ISD, schools are finding ways to provide more and cleaner air to students and staff...

Students, teachers and parents climb the virtual learning curve

School 2.0 Charles Honey

A year after schools statewide were forced to close their doors by a rampant virus, teachers and students alike have learned a ton about how to do online learning...

All student groups continue steady climb in graduation rates

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

Graduation rates continue to provide good news at GRPS, which has seen yearly improvement since 2012...

School library renamed in honor of ‘a true educator’

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

In her 12 years as principal of the former Henry Park Elementary School, she fixed many problems – both academic and material – for her largely impoverished students...

District’s newest school is a winner in green design

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

Southwest Middle High School - Academia Bilingue is a state-of-the-art, $20 million project that has earned LEED silver certification...

Districts ready to spend COVID relief dollars — once state allocates them

School 2.0 Erin Albanese

Area school districts are waiting for federal relief funding to address the year-long impact of the COVID-19 pandemic...

A shirt with a message: Black history is happening ‘right now’

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

A GRPS student’s T-shirt design is in 220 Meijer stores in six states for Black History Month...

District launches virtual choice expo for theme, neighborhood schools

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

An annual school choice expo for GRPS schools will expand to include neighborhood schools and be held virtually on Feb. 18...

How one school reached out to missing students

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

Union High School principals and teachers tracked down missing students to see how they’re doing, where they’re learning and whether they’ll come back...