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Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center

409 LAFAYETTE AVE SE GRAND RAPIDS MI 49503

Top 25% School in Michigan

Ranked 65 of 247 in Michigan

See top schools in Grand Rapids

About Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center

Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center educates approximately 250 students (K–5) in a Reggio Emilia-inspired manner. Child Discovery Center has a student–teacher ratio of 15:1, and emphasizes collaborative, creative, and inquiry-based learning. Student proficiency rates are close to 52% in reading and 44% in math. Diversity may be shown in the following demographics: 50% White, 25% Black, 15% Hispanic, and 10% other, with about 60% free or reduced lunch participants. Staff includes approximately 18 educators and support staff who have been trained in experiential learning. The cost of housing in GRCC's area is relatively affordable compared to other districts in the area, at around $310K-$335K median price per home. While many of the best elementary schools in Michigan are focused on traditional measures as a one-size-fits-all model, Child Discovery Center's focus is on curiosity, collaboration, and whole-child development while putting forth a more viable educational experience available to the people of Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center Contact Information

Address

409 LAFAYETTE AVE SE GRAND RAPIDS MI 49503

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Phone

(616) 459-0330

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Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 52%
Reading 72%
State average proficiency is 52% in Math and 72% in Reading.
15
Full-time Teachers
285
Total Students
TOP 65 IN STEM IN STATE

Robotics & STEM
at Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center

2.5X
More likely to pursue STEM Careers
80%
Jobs that will require STEM in 2030
2.5X
More likely to persue STEM Careers
80%
Jobs that will require STEM in 2030
  • 🤖 Coding & Debugging
  • 🧪 Hobby Electronics and Engineering
  • 👩‍💻 Apply Math in Science and Engineering
  • 🛠️ 3D Printing
🚀
Hands-on with real robots
🏆
Led by competition winners
🎓
STEM career pathways

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.....

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Mansfield Public Schools Educator Spotlight: Pathways of a Fourth-Grade Teacher

MANSFIELD — Inside the brick building on East Street, four educators who began teaching within 2 years of each other, all spending the beginning of their careers teaching fourth grade at Jordan/Jackson Elementary School...

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School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 9:00AM - 4:00PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:45 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.

Student Demographics

White 65.2%
Asian 1%
Hispanic 13.6%
Black 8.7%
Two+ Races 11.5%
Native Am. 0%
White
65.2%
Asian
1%
Hispanic
13.6%
Black
8.7%
Two+ Races
11.5%
Native Am.
0%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 285
48%
137 Female
52%
148 Male

Student Population

285 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 16.9375 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

A larger STEAM event featuring robotics, 3D printing, and other technology is scheduled for April 12, 2026, at Western Michigan University.

FAQ

1. What is the Reggio Emilia approach, and how do they use it?

At the school, they implement the Reggio Emilia philosophy, which focuses on a child-centered model of learning and exploratory learning.

2. What does the school do to get children to be creative?

The children are involved in a range of art making experiences, allowing children to express thoughts and ideas.

3. In what ways are parents included in the learning?

Parents are considered co-learners, and they will actively participate in their children's educational experience.

4. How does the school create a love for learning?

The school has a strong curriculum that builds on children's curiosity, and emphasizes the joy of learning.

5. What partnerships does the school have in the community?

The school collaborates with various community groups as a way to enhance the learning experience, as well as to support the wider community.

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

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DISCLAIMER

The information provided about schools is for general reference only and may not be 100% accurate or up to date. We recommend contacting the respective school directly to confirm the latest details and ensure accuracy.