We have a number of volunteers from the community that work with students in the academic areas. Whenever there is a concert, dinner, or conferences we can count on a great turnout. In addition to neighborhood schools, the Grand Rapids Public Schools also offers families the choice of citywide schools which enroll children from throughout Grand Rapids. These schools offer the core curriculum with special focus on a theme or a particular teaching and learning method, such as Montessori. In fact, the Grand Rapids Public Schools is one of the few districts in the country able to offer families a K-12 Montessori experience, thanks to its citywide school program.
Citywide schools fall into several categories.
Citywide academies are elementary programs that select all of their students based on a computer lottery. Modified citywide schools are elementary schools that accept a limited number of students from throughout the city based on enrollment. Some citywide centers or schools accept students based on references and interviews. For more information about the citywide program, please call the Grand Rapids Public Schools at 771-2018. Last Year Riverside Elementary was recognized in the Spring 1998 edition of Association for Supervision of Curriculum Development for our arts infusion program with the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra.