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ABOUT FHPS

Forest Hills Public Schools (FHPS), established in 1956 through the consolidation of 13 local school districts, now serves over 9,000 students across 17 school buildings spanning nearly 68 square miles in the Grand Rapids area. Renowned for its strong academic performance, FHPS offers a diverse curriculum including career-tech pathways, Spanish and Mandarin immersion, environmental outdoor education, and extensive AP offerings. Guided by its mission to provide every learner with opportunities to build meaningful, productive lives, FHPS maintains moderately sized schools and a student‑centered approach that emphasizes high-quality instruction and community partnership.

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DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR KIDS

At Forest Hills Public Schools, every decision we make is rooted in doing what’s best for kids. We are committed to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where each student is empowered to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Our goal is to propel every learner to achieve their individual potential and thrive both in school and beyond.

DON'T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

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DR. LONGER NAMERSON, PRESIDENT OF FHC

17

All FHPS schools received an 'A' rating on Niche.

3

All three FHPS high schools rank nationally on "U.S. News and World Report's" list of "Best High Schools."

3000

The amount of AP tests students complete in the spring.

ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THREE ATTENDANCE AREAS

To foster a sense of community and keep school sizes manageable, FHPS is divided into three distinct attendance areas, each anchored by its own high school. By structuring the district into these three attendance areas, FHPS ensures a balanced student population, encourages strong local bonds, and supports high-quality educational experiences, from neighborhood elementary schools to their corresponding high schools.

ATTENDANCE AREA MAP

CENTRAL ATTENDANCE AREA

Students in this zone progress from elementary schools such as Ada, Pine Ridge, Thornapple, and Central Woodlands 5/6 to Central Middle School, and on to Forest Hills Central High School.

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NORTHERN ATTENDANCE AREA

This region includes Ada Vista (Spanish immersion), Collins, Meadow Brook (Mandarin immersion), and Northern Trails 5/6 as its feeder schools, leading to Northern Hills Middle School and Forest Hills Northern High School.

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EASTERN ATTENDANCE AREA

Students begin their education journey at Knapp Forest elementary and Orchard View before moving onto Eastern Middle School, this zone funnels students into Forest Hills Eastern High School, the newest high school in the district, established in 2004.

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All three FHPS High Schools rank nationally on US News and Report's Best High Schools list.

The amount of students who participate in an additional extracurricular activity at FHPS.

All FHPS Schools have received an 'A' rating on Niche.

OUR MISSION & VISION

FHPS HISTORY

OUR MISSION

In partnership with our community, Forest Hills Public Schools will provide all learners with opportunities to acquire the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to build meaningful and productive lives.

OUR VISION

All learners achieving individual potential.

FHPS HISTORY

In 1956, thirteen one‑room schoolhouses across Grand Rapids, Cascade and Ada consolidated to create the Forest Hills district, initially operating eight school buildings. The community chose the name “Forest Hills” that August through a citizens’ advisory committee. Soon after, in fall 1958, the first high school, now Forest Hills Central, opened, followed by Forest Hills Northern in 1972 and Forest Hills Eastern in 2004. Over the decades the district has grown significantly: today it spans roughly 68 sq mi, serves over 9,000 students across 17 schools—including elementary, middle, high schools, plus a Fine Arts Center and Aquatic/community center. Between strong academic outcomes and regular expansion, FHPS has become one of Michigan’s top-performing and geographically largest districts.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The District’s Mission, Vision, and Guiding Principles were established by Dr. Michael Washburn, FHPS Superintendent, and the FHPS Board of Education during Washburn’s 21-year tenure as school superintendent. Dr. Washburn served as superintendent from 1985-2006.

CARING

COLLABORATION

OPEN COMMUNICATION

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVENESS

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

LEARNING

RESPECT

TRUST

CARING

We are committed to the principle of Caring.

We believe in:

Maintaining a family atmosphere
Supporting each other
Being warm, sincere, and genuine
Accepting and including everyone
Confronting the tough issues
Keeping each other safe and secure

COLLABORATION

We are committed to the principle of Collaboration.

We believe in:

Solving problems together
Working toward win/win
Building partnerships
Sharing best practices
Volunteering
Being generous
Engaging parents as full partners

OPEN COMMUNICATION

We are committed to the principle of Open Communication.

We believe in:

Listening
Sharing
Promoting trust
Building community through dialogue
Encouraging participation from all

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVENESS

We are committed to the principle of Diversity and Inclusiveness.

We believe in:

Helping students value their unique talents and gifts
Knowing, understanding and appreciating each other
Valuing individual differences
Celebrating our heritage
Healing racism
Embracing differences to enrich, strengthen, and connect our community
Striving for equity
Considering all viewpoints to arrive at better decisions

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

We are committed to the principle of High Expectations.

We believe in:

Expecting all children to learn
Requiring all to give their best
Providing opportunities for all to contribute
Assuming parents want what’s best for their child
Maintaining high academic standards
offering challenging opportunities
Helping students make healthy choices
Contributing to the development of good character

LEARNING

We are committed to the principle of Learning.

We believe in:

Learning for its own sake
Offering a range of educational opportunities
Providing diverse experiences
Individualizing learning programs
Accommodating multiple intelligences and learning styles
Preparing students for lifelong learning
Providing quality resources
Accessing the world beyond our classrooms

RESPECT

We are committed to the principle of Respect.

We believe in:

Fostering high regard for self and others
Modeling civility
Appreciating differences
Adhering to our code of conduct
Having zero tolerance for inappropriate behaviors

TRUST

We are committed to the principle of Trust.

We believe in:

Being honest
Being consistent
Being loyal
Assuming others’ intentions are good
Keeping promises
Demonstrating good stewardship

TOURS & ENROLLMENT

TOURS

ENROLLMENT

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT FHPS HAS TO OFFER.

If you would like to schedule a tour of any of our schools during the school year, please contact the school directly to make an appointment, and/or if you are working with a realtor, the realtor can also contact the school. We also encourage you to verify addresses of apartments, townhouses, homes and/or properties that you are interested in to confirm they are within the Forest Hills school district and to confirm the school attendance area by calling our administration building, at 616-493-8800.

Please note, we do not provide school tours for schools of choice families. If you would like to schedule a tour of a school during the summer, we may be able to provide one with advance notice. However, our school buildings undergo many changes during the summer, including deep cleaning, repair, and maintenance. If you are moving to the area during the summer, please call the administration building for additional assistance at 616-493-8800.

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ENROLLMENT

If you are establishing a place of residence or have completed residency paperwork within the Forest Hills Public School district, and are ready to enroll, please visit our enrollment page. Here you will find all of the forms and documents needed to become an FHPS student. Welcome to Forest Hills Public Schools!

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WORK AT FHPS

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

BOARD OF EDUCATION

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