Riverside Middle School: Top Grades 6-8 in Grand Rapids, MI (2026 List)

About Riverside Middle School

Riverside Middle School, located at 265 Eleanor St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505, serves students in grades 6 through 8. It is a public middle school operating within Grand Rapids Public Schools. The school enrolls roughly 244 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio close to 15:1. School demographics reflect a campus population made up of roughly 54% boys and 46% girls. Recent assessment data showed about 13% of students were proficient in math, while nearly 21% met proficiency standards in reading. Outside of regular classroom instruction year-round, there are sports, music programs, leadership opportunities, arts courses and student clubs that contribute to the campus atmosphere. The school also maintains strong ties to community programs and neighborhood events across the northeast Grand Rapids area. After eighth grade, students typically move into Grand Rapids Public Schools' high school pathways with access to broader academic and extracurricular opportunities. Homes around the Eleanor Street area often range from the upper-$100Ks into the low-$300Ks, with pricing influenced by home age and ongoing neighborhood redevelopment nearby. Riverside Middle School remains part of many Grand Rapids-area school comparisons tied to top middle schools in Michigan.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 13%

Reading 21%

State average proficiency is 13% in Math and 21% in Reading.

16

Full-time Teachers

15 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

244

Total Students

$41645

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 8.61%

Asian 0.82%

Hispanic 20.9%

Black 57.79%

Two+ Races 11.89%

Native Am. 0%

White

8.61%

Asian

0.82%

Hispanic

20.9%

Black

57.79%

Two+ Races

11.89%

Native Am.

0%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 244

45.9%

112 Female

54.1%

132 Male

Student Population

244 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 15 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

244 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Riverside Middle School Contact Information

Address

265 ELEANOR ST NE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI, 49505

View on Map

Phone

(616) 819-2969

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

Memorial Day May 25, 2026 Riverside Middle School will be closed for Memorial Day. No school or LOOP programming for students. Closing coincides with the academic calendar and the national holiday. The 2026 school year will end on June 3, the last day scholars will be in school after a series of half-days. The date marks the official close of the school year for the school community, of classroom instruction, and of academic activities.

FAQ

Q1. What is Riverside Middle School known for in Grand Rapids?

Ans. Riverside Middle School offers academics for middle grades, as well as athletics, fine arts programs and exploratory learning opportunities.

Q2. Can students at Riverside Middle School join leadership groups?

Ans. Yes. Student organizations and leadership activities are active parts of campus involvement at Riverside Middle School.

Q3. How are reading and writing skills practiced at Riverside Middle School?

Ans. Language arts instruction includes literary discussions, vocabulary work, and structured writing assignments tied to classroom reading materials.

Q4. Are after-school activities active at Riverside Middle School?

Ans. Athletics teams, clubs, and music programs regularly meet outside normal class hours at Riverside Middle School.

Q5. What do families commonly attend at Riverside Middle School?

Ans. Open houses, concerts, athletics events, and curriculum programs regularly bring families to Riverside Middle School.

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.

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What Parents Say