Central Middle School

Central Middle School is a junior high of middle-of-the-pack scale in ADA, Michigan, operated by Forest Hills Public Schools, caters to 488 students in grades 7 through 8.

Across the 18 schools in Forest Hills Public Schools (8,797 students total), Central Middle School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Demographically, Central Middle School logs that nearly all students (83%) are White. Other groups include 6% Asian, 5% Hispanic, 4% multiracial. The wider county runs roughly 73% White, putting the school's mix meaningfully more White than the area baseline.

On the income-and-resources front, On paper, Central Middle School has 25 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 19.5:1. That figure is higher than the state norm's 17.5:1 average. Roughly 12% of students at Central Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. That share is lower than Kent County's rate of about 47%.

After controlling for student poverty, Central Middle School is in the OUTPERFORMING tier of the BeatsExpectations model, which fits a per-state line through proficiency and FRL share. Schools with this campus's poverty mix typically land near 60.8%; this one delivers 77.2%, a residual of +16.3 points.

Across the wider county, Kent County reports that median household income runs about $82,631, about 41% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate sits near 6%. Across Kent County's 239 public schools (combined enrollment of about 97,253 students), Central Middle School is one campus in the mix.

Nearest neighbor: Central High School, around 0.3 miles off. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius. Among the 7 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Central Middle School ranks 2nd on composite proficiency, above the local average of 69.5%.

The campus sits in an outer-ring setting.

Five-year trend. Central Middle School's enrollment has fell 19% since 2018, when it stood at 605 (now 488). Class-load math has tightened: from 20.8:1 in 2018 to 19.5:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, the feed for Central Middle School typically covers school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Members of the school community can share what they know.