Big Rapids School District

21034 15 Mile Rd
Big Rapids, MI 49307-8845
(District boundaries shown in map)
8/
10
Top 30%

Top Rankings

Big Rapids School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Michigan for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 6 public schools serving 2,376 students in Big Rapids School District. This district's average testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public schools in Michigan.
Public Schools in Big Rapids School District have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the Michigan public school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 12% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Michigan public school average of 37% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (MI)
# Schools
6 Schools
3,509 Schools
# Students
2,376 Students
1,376,331 Students
# Teachers
118 Teachers
82,379 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
20:1
20:1

District Rank

Big Rapids School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 851 school districts in Michigan (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 65-69% has decreased from 77% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MI)
#225 out of 866 school districts
(Top 30%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Big Rapids   School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
37%
34%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Big Rapids   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Michigan by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
53%
45%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Big Rapids   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Michigan by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
39%
38%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Big Rapids   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Michigan by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
65-69%
81%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Big Rapids   School District and public school graduation rate of Michigan by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.22
0.56
# American Indian Students
8 Students
8,574 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
1%
# Asian Students
8 Students
50,770 Students
% Asian Students
n/a
4%
# Hispanic Students
52 Students
125,678 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
9%
# Black Students
69 Students
244,434 Students
% Black Students
3%
18%
# White Students
2,097 Students
871,645 Students
% White Students
88%
63%
# Hawaiian Students
1 Student
1,208 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
141 Students
73,219 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
5%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
-
-
# Students in K Grade:
215
110,461
# Students in 1st Grade:
169
100,790
# Students in 2nd Grade:
180
102,777
# Students in 3rd Grade:
156
100,401
# Students in 4th Grade:
165
101,847
# Students in 5th Grade:
140
101,136
# Students in 6th Grade:
179
102,120
# Students in 7th Grade:
155
103,285
# Students in 8th Grade:
162
102,692
# Students in 9th Grade:
212
114,669
# Students in 10th Grade:
232
112,993
# Students in 11th Grade:
208
109,871
# Students in 12th Grade:
203
109,317
# Ungraded Students:
-
3,972

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $13,412 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,510. The school district revenue/student has declined by 14% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,086 is less than the state median of $17,693. The school district spending/student has declined by 14% over four school years.
This School District
This State (MI)
Total Revenue
$32 MM
$25,476 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Big Rapids   School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in Michigan by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$38 MM
$24,351 MM
This chart displays total spending of Big Rapids   School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in Michigan by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$13,412
$18,510
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Big Rapids   School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in Michigan by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$16,086
$17,693
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Big Rapids   School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in Michigan by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Big Rapids School District Public Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Riverview Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
509 Willow Ave
Big Rapids, MI 49307
(231) 796-2550
Grades: K-4
| 321 students
Rank: #22.
Big Rapids High School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
21175 15 Mile Rd
Big Rapids, MI 49307
(231) 796-7651
Grades: 9-12
| 747 students
Rank: #33.
Brookside Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
210 Escott St
Big Rapids, MI 49307
(231) 796-8323
Grades: PK-4
| 342 students
Rank: #44.
Big Rapids Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
500 N Warren Ave
Big Rapids, MI 49307
(231) 796-9965
Grades: 5-8
| 618 students
Rank: #55.
Big Rapids Virtual School
Alternative School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
14980 215th Ave
Big Rapids, MI 49307
(231) 796-3489
Grades: K-12
| 133 students
Rank: n/an/a
410 N 3rd Ave
Big Rapids, MI 49307
(231) 598-9700
Grades: PK-K
| 215 students

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Big Rapids School District?
Big Rapids School District manages 6 public schools serving 2,376 students.
What is the rank of Big Rapids School District?
Big Rapids School District is ranked #238 out of 851 school districts in Michigan (top 30%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Michigan school districts for: Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Big Rapids School District?
88% of Big Rapids School District students are White, 6% of students are Two or more races, 3% of students are Black, 2% of students are Hispanic, and 1% of students are American Indian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Big Rapids School District?
Big Rapids School District has a student/teacher ratio of 20:1, which is higher than the Michigan state average of 17:1.
What is Big Rapids School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $16,086 is less than the state median of $17,693. The school district spending/student has declined by 14% over four school years.

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 6 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 2,376 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 20:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 12%
  • : 65-69% (Btm 50% in MI)
  • : Top 30%
  • : 37% (Top 30%)
  • : 53% (Top 30%)
  • : 39% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MI Dept. of Education

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