If you want a suburban community with excellent schools, close to shopping, parks and downtown Grand Rapids, I recommend Sparta Schools. Both the Middle School and High School are highly rated, with MEAP scores improving. The Middle School is a Blue Ribbon Award winner and the High School is brand new with all the latest technology, plus a great staff. The principals at both schools are young, passionate and innovative. I have one child who graduated in 2008 and is now at MSU. She said that several of her high school teachers expected more of her than her college professors do! Plus, Sparta is a beautiful little community!

I have to say I have been very impressed with Jenison Public schools. When my child was having some challenges emotionally they were extremely responsive. In fact at the Junior High they went well above and beyond what they are required to do as far as support services. She needed home-bound schools support for a bit and althought the state only requires about 45 min. a week of contact for the home bound student, she was offered to have as much contact with home-bound teacher as she needed. They felt that the child should come first.

If you're interested in a parochial school environment for your children, I highly recommend St. Paul the Apostle Elementary School (SE quadrant of GR) for your middle school student and Catholic Central High School (Downtown GR) for your older student. Both are safe, loving environments with dynamic programs, high academic standards, involved parents, challenging extracurricular programs, great athletic programs and excellent reputations for producing students of character who excel in college.

If you're urban dwellers and are in the Grand Rapids Public School District, I highly recommend City High/Middle, a program for gifted/talented/academically motivated students. Contact the school at 819-2380 for information about admission. ...Awesome staff, economicology program (new this year for gr. 7) and soon to be IB certified (lloks like 09). It is a "poor/urban" school district but the school itself leads the state and offers an interdisciplinary curriculum. It is also a small school, which means a lot of interaction (though fewer course choices due to economy-of-scale issues).

If you prefer to live a suburban lifestyle, I suspect your children would enjoy the rigor and community of East Grand Rapids (great high school, more traditional than City) or Forest Hills. Another strong performer is Northview.

My son is a senior this year and despite the chronic underfunding issues in Michigan education and the fact that we came here from Canada (where funding seems to be more evenly distributed and grading is curved), we've been very blessed to be part of the City community. The continuity across middle to high is also nice.

Hope this helps. PM me if you're looking for a great real estate agent -- I have a few clients who could assist you.

Cheers, K