Forest Hills Public Schools

What Forest Hills Public Schools does

Forest Hills Public Schools (FHPS) is a Michigan public school district headquartered in Grand Rapids, serving over 9,000 students across 18 school buildings in an approximately 68-square-mile geographic area. Founded in 1956 when 13 neighboring one-room schoolhouses consolidated, FHPS offers educational services spanning preschool through post-secondary transition, including dual language immersion programs in Spanish (K-12) and Mandarin Chinese (K-12), an AP Capstone program at Forest Hills Central High School, a STEM Academy, the environmental-focused Goodwillie Environmental School (grades 5-6), and the alternative Flex Academy. The portfolio extends beyond K-12 academics to include before/after school child care at eight elementary schools (serving over 600 children), preschool programs, summer day camp, student transportation covering approximately 800,000 annual fleet miles, food service operated in partnership with Chartwells K12, the Forest Hills Aquatic Center, the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center, and community enrichment classes for youth, adults, and seniors.

FHPS operates an integrated technology environment composed entirely of third-party K-12 systems: Canvas as the district-wide learning management system, PowerSchool for student information and the parent portal, Clever for single sign-on, SchoolMessenger for notifications, My Ride K-12 for real-time bus tracking, Nutrislice for menu publishing, Meal Magic for meal account management, and Algolia for site search. Support services include Title I instructional support, multilingual learner programming across 60+ languages, McKinney-Vento homeless assistance, gifted education, special education through the Transition Center, and before/after school care registered through ezchildtrack.

As a government entity governed by an elected Board of Education, FHPS does not operate a commercial revenue model; funding derives from local property taxes, state aid, and federal grants. Fee-based ancillary services (community enrichment, child care, summer camp, food service deposits) and partnership arrangements (Chartwells K12 for food service, Parchment for transcript ordering) generate marginal non-tax revenue. Service delivery is channeled through district administration, school-based enrollment, the Schools of Choice program, immersion programs with lottery enrollment, and the Goodwillie application/selection process.

Name

Forest Hills Public Schools

Legal name

Forest Hills Public Schools

Website

https://fhps.net

Company type

Public

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Forest Hills Public Schools is a Michigan public school district serving over 9,000 students across 18 buildings in the Grand Rapids area, offering K-12 academics, dual language immersion, child care, transportation, food service, and community enrichment via state aid and property tax funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB), Public Middle Schools (EDAJAAAC), Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Dual language immersion
• Special education services
• School meal programs
• Student transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Forest Hills Public Schools operates a comprehensive K-12 public school district serving over 9,000 students across 18 school buildings in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. The district delivers core academic curriculum plus specialized programs including Spanish and Mandarin dual-language immersion, STEM Academy, AP Capstone, and the Goodwillie Environmental School, supported by child care, food service, transportation, and community enrichment services.

Product overview

Forest Hills Public Schools is a comprehensive public school district offering educational services from preschool through post-secondary transition. The district operates 18 school buildings serving over 9,000 students across approximately 68 square miles in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. The educational portfolio includes core academic programs plus specialized offerings: dual language immersion programs in Spanish (K-4 at Ada Vista Elementary) and Mandarin Chinese (K-5 at Meadow Brook Elementary); STEM Academy and AP Capstone programs at the high school level; the environmental-focused Goodwillie Environmental School for grades 5-6; and Flex Academy for alternative education. Beyond academics, the district provides child care services at elementary schools (before/after school care, preschool, and summer day camp), food services through a partnership with Chartwells K12, community enrichment classes for all ages, student transportation with route tracking via My Ride K-12, and operates the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center and Aquatic Center as community facilities. Support services include Title I intervention programs, multilingual learner services (60+ languages), McKinney-Vento homeless assistance, gifted education, and the Transition Center for students with developmental disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Spanish Immersion Program K-12 dual language immersion program teaching academic content in Spanish, available at Ada Vista Elementary for grades K-4 with continuation through high school. Students learn to read in Spanish in first grade with English reading instruction beginning in second grade.
• Mandarin Chinese Immersion Program K-12 dual language immersion program teaching academic content in Mandarin Chinese, available at Meadow Brook Elementary. Includes a dedicated Mandarin Immersion kindergarten program and roadmap for progression through high school.
• STEM Academy Specialized STEM education program for middle and high school students offering advanced coursework in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
• Advanced Placement (AP) Courses College-level courses offered at high schools with 19 AP courses across the district. Forest Hills Central is an AP Capstone High School.
• Goodwillie Environmental School Environmental-focused 5-6 grade school emphasizing outdoor learning, hands-on experiences, and nature-based education with integrated curriculum aligned to Common Core standards. Enrollment is through an application and selection process.
• Flex Academy Alternative high school program providing flexible learning options for students in grades 9-12, located at 3775 Leonard Street NE.
• FHPS Summer Academy For-credit summer academic program allowing students to earn course credits during summer break.
• Gifted Education Services Accelerated academic programs and gifted education services including accelerated mathematics pathways for students demonstrating exceptional abilities.
• Fine Arts Programs Comprehensive visual and performing arts education including choir, band, jazz, orchestra, drama, and art across all grade levels K-12, with performances at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center.
• Transition Center Post-secondary transition program for young adults with developmental disabilities focusing on daily living, community participation, employment, continuing education, and recreation/leisure skills.
• Multilingual Learners Program English as a Second Language (ESL) program supporting students who speak over 60 different languages as their primary language, with multilingual learner services K-12.
• Title I Services Federally funded instructional support program providing additional academic resources and interventions for eligible students in reading and mathematics.
• McKinney-Vento Homeless Services Support services for students experiencing homelessness, ensuring educational access and continuity under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
• Before and After School Child Care Child care services at eight elementary schools and one 5/6 building serving over 600 children during the school year, providing safe, structured care before and after regular school hours.
• Preschool Programs Traditional preschool options including Junior Kindergarten, Great Start Readiness Preschool (GSRP), and tuition-based preschool programs for children before kindergarten entry.
• Summer Day Camp Full-day summer camp program for school-age children requiring minimum 4-week enrollment, operated by the Child Care Services department.
• School Meal Program District food service program providing free breakfast and lunch for all students through the Michigan School Meals program, featuring fresh, nutritious, locally sourced ingredients with vegetarian options.
• Student Transportation Services School bus transportation serving students within the 68-square-mile district, with annual fleet travel of approximately 800,000 miles. Includes route tracking via the My Ride K-12 app.
• Community Enrichment Classes Recreational and educational enrichment opportunities for youth, adults, and seniors including youth enrichment, adult enrichment, and senior enrichment programs with early bird pricing and senior discounts.
• Middle School Sports Competitive athletic programs for middle school students providing sports participation opportunities across multiple disciplines.
• Forest Hills Aquatic Center Public swimming facility operated by the district offering aquatic programs, swim lessons, and pool access to community members.
• Forest Hills Fine Arts Center State-of-the-art performing arts center hosting school performances, concerts, theatrical productions, and community events for the district and public.
• Transcript Ordering Service Transcript ordering service for graduates of Forest Hills Central, Northern, and Eastern High Schools, accessed via Parchment.

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Grand Rapids Public Schools: The urban K-12 public district at the center of the same metro. Comparable as a Michigan public school district operating under the same state funding formula and competing for resident students.
• Northview Public Schools: K-12 public district in the Grand Rapids metro. Comparable as a public K-12 system serving a similar suburban demographic under the same state funding framework.
• Byron Center Public Schools: Growing K-12 public district south of Grand Rapids. Comparable as a Michigan public district competing for the same suburban families and operating under identical state per-pupil funding mechanics.
• Jenison Public Schools: K-12 public district immediately west of Grand Rapids. Comparable as a Michigan public school system of similar suburban profile with overlapping enrollment and program competition.
• Kentwood Public Schools: Adjacent K-12 public district in Kent County. Comparable as a Michigan public school system of similar suburban profile with overlapping feeder patterns and program offerings.
• Caledonia Community Schools: K-12 public district in the Grand Rapids metro (Kent County). Comparable as a public school district of similar scale and demographics, competing for the same Schools of Choice population.
• Rockford Public Schools: A nearby K-12 public school district in the Grand Rapids metro area (Kent County). Directly comparable as a public district serving a similar suburban demographic with overlapping enrollment competition and state funding structure.
• East Grand Rapids Public Schools: Small K-12 public district immediately adjacent to Forest Hills in the Grand Rapids metro. Comparable as a public K-12 system competing for the same Schools of Choice and out-of-district families.

Regional players

• Lowell Area Schools: K-12 public district in eastern Kent County. Comparable as a Michigan public school district of similar scale, but operating in a different sub-region of the Grand Rapids metro.
• Sparta Area Schools: K-12 public district in northern Kent County. Comparable as a Michigan public school district operating under the same state funding model, though in a more rural catchment than Forest Hills.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ForestHillsPS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC4SyQ91IoSqrGr_Va2S66Aw/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/fhps.net
• Instagraminstagram.com/foresthillspublic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forest-hills-public-schools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forest Hills Public Schools