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Grand Rapids schools post ‘huge’ gain in numbers of students

Posted at 4:37 PM, Oct 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-05 19:35:14-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Grand Rapids Public Schools are celebrating an enrollment gain for the current school year.

Wednesday was "Count Day" across Michigan.  The school attendance on this day is used to determine funding levels.

Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal announced Wednesday afternoon that the district had an increase of 160 students this year.  The district has been averaging declines over the past two decades, losing between 400 and 600 student annually.  The district had projected a gain of 25 students for this year.

“Grand Rapids Public Schools is stable and we are growing again! Today’s count is 16,840. That’s up 160 students from last year! This is huge! Today we join the ranks of a select few urban districts who have turned around and are experiencing growth,” said Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal in a press release.

Weatherall Neal and Dr. Tony Baker, the President of the Board of Education are touting the count as a success for the GRPS Transformation Plan.