Gerald R Ford Academic Center

851 Madison Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507

230 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 8th

School Overview

The Gerald R. Ford Academic Center, located in the Madison Area neighborhood of Grand Rapids, Michigan, serves as a PK-5 elementary school within the Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) district. Named in honor of the 38th President of the United States—who spent his formative years in Grand Rapids—the school functions as a community-focused institution dedicated to providing a foundational academic experience. Its curriculum is designed to support student growth in core subjects while fostering a supportive environment that reflects the neighborhood's commitment to education.

Beyond traditional classroom instruction, the school is deeply integrated into the local community, benefiting from its namesake’s legacy of public service. The center emphasizes a well-rounded approach to development, often participating in district-wide initiatives aimed at literacy, social-emotional learning, and equity. As an urban school, it serves a diverse student body, working to provide essential resources and structured learning opportunities to help children navigate their early academic years and prepare for future success in middle and high school.

230

Total Students

15.5

Full-Time Teachers

14.8

Student/Teacher Ratio

79.1%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Gerald R Ford Academic Center
Demographic	Student Count
White	7
Hispanic	95
Black	124
Two or More	4

Black
124 (53.9 %)
Hispanic
95 (41.3 %)
White
7 (3.0 %)
Two or More
4 (1.7 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Grand Rapids Public Schools
Phone:	(616)819-2640
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 8th
Total Students:	230
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	15.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.8
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	171
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	11

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 15

Grade 1 35

Grade 2 35

Grade 3 30

Grade 4 25

Grade 5 28

Grade 6 32

Grade 7 17

Grade 8 13