Burton Middle School: Top Middle School in Grand Rapids, MI (2026 List)

About Burton Middle School

Burton Middle School, located at 2133 Buchanan Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49507, serves students in grades 6 through 8. It is a public middle school operating within Grand Rapids Public Schools. The campus serves roughly 444 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio close to 19:1. School demographics reflect a campus population made up of roughly 50% boys and 50% girls. Recent assessment data showed about 2% of students were proficient in math, while nearly 10% met proficiency standards in reading. Activities throughout the year include athletics, arts programs, leadership opportunities, music courses, and student clubs that help create an active campus environment. The school also places strong emphasis on student support services and community involvement across the surrounding southwest Grand Rapids area. Students commonly transition into Grand Rapids Public Schools' high school pathways after eighth grade. Homes around the Buchanan Avenue area often range from the upper-$100Ks into the low-$300Ks, with pricing influenced by home age and neighborhood redevelopment nearby. Burton Middle School remains part of many Grand Rapids school comparisons tied to top middle schools in Michigan.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 2%

Reading 10%

State average proficiency is 2% in Math and 10% in Reading.

23

Full-time Teachers

19 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

444

Total Students

$41645

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 2.25%

Asian 0.23%

Hispanic 72.75%

Black 22.75%

Two+ Races 2.03%

Native Am. 0%

White

2.25%

Asian

0.23%

Hispanic

72.75%

Black

22.75%

Two+ Races

2.03%

Native Am.

0%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 444

49.77%

221 Female

50.23%

223 Male

Student Population

444 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 19 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

444 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Burton Middle School Contact Information

Address

2133 BUCHANAN AVE SW, GRAND RAPIDS, MI, 49507

View on Map

Phone

(616) 819-2269

Call Now

Website

https://grps.org/

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 7:40 AM - 2:23 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:25 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Burton Middle School will end its school year on June 3. This date is the last day of classroom instruction and end of year academic activities for students and staff. It's also the end of the marking period. And the end of the semester school year. The historic event begins the school’s summer vacation.

FAQ

Q1. Is Burton Middle School known for strong extracurricular participation?

Ans. Yes. Athletics, music programs, leadership groups and student activities are offered throughout the year at Burton Middle School.

Q2. Can students join beginner music programs at Burton Middle School?

Ans. Yes. Students at Burton Middle School can begin band and choir programs even without earlier middle school performance experience.

Q3. How are science lessons taught at Burton Middle School?

Ans. Science instruction includes classroom experiments, observation activities, and lab investigations tied to current learning units.

Q4. What does a regular schedule look like at Burton Middle School?

Ans. Burton Middle School offers a structured middle school day where students move between core classes and exploratory electives.

Q5. What do parents usually access online from Burton Middle School?

Ans. Families commonly check transportation details, school calendars, and student meal account information through district systems.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say