Forest Hills Public Schools
Strong Schools, Strong Communities
Forest Hills Public Schools serves more than 9,000 students and includes 18 school buildings, a fine arts center, a community/aquatic and senior center, and other service buildings. Moderately-sized schools with smaller class sizes help the district feel smaller and enable us to stay more connected. We pride ourselves on a reputation for academic excellence and innovative programming. Our staff is committed to providing every student educational opportunities that will maximize each student’s preparation for the future. Strengthening our schools strengthens our future workforce, helping develop talent right here in our district. The students and staff in Forest Hills Public Schools are grateful to our voters for approving the Strong Schools, Strong Communities millage, which we are putting to good use for students.
District Mission
In partnership with our community, Forest Hills Public Schools will provide all learners with opportunities to acquire the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary to build meaningful and productive lives.
Career Learning
We help students consider and connect with possible careers, build the skills expected in the workplace and learn about options after graduation, including college, technical training or going directly into the workforce. We offer career and technical coursework through Kent Career Tech Center, Kent Health Career Internship and Kent Innovation High. In addition, Forest Hills Public Schools offers students a wide array of career-related learning opportunities including business, communications, and industrial technology courses, as well as work and cooperative education experiences.
Academics and Beyond
Strong academics are the basis for all of Junior Kindergarten thru 12th grade learning, beginning with literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies. In addition to these areas, we engage students with a wide range of courses including visual and performing arts, technology and robotics, world languages, and much more. Specialized programs include language immersion programs in Spanish and Mandarin, outdoor and environmental education, and a STEM Academy. After-school and summer learning opportunities are provided through FHPS Community Enrichment with exciting course offerings for all ages on a wide range of topics from aquatics to digital learning.
Early Childhood
Early childhood is a critical time of development. Exploratory learning is especially important during this time when rapid growth of cognitive, social, and emotional skills is experienced. Forest Hills Public
Schools offer numerous programs to support our youngest learners and help prepare them for school
success. Bright Beginnings serves families with children from birth to junior kindergarten with home visits, playgroups, and screenings. Preschool programs include traditional preschool and the Great Start Readiness program.
Support for Students
Many students may need a little extra support at some point in their schooling. This may occur in a
particular subject, with an assignment, or during a life challenge. We work hard to support students so
they succeed. This includes hiring the highest quality staffing and using evidence-based practices in
every classroom. In addition, we provide comprehensive Junior Kindergarten-12 guidance and counseling programming in all of our schools, with preventive lessons and supports for individuals, small groups, and classrooms. Forest Hills Public Schools also offers a continuum of special education programs and services, including resource programs, categorical classrooms, and post-secondary transition services.
Fund Allocation
How Forest Hills is using the funds generated from the enhancement millage:
- Supporting our Teachers - FHPS provided teachers with a one percent increase in pay
and advanced teachers on the salary schedule based upon experience and merit. State
funding alone would not have covered these basic, inflationary costs for the 2017-18
school year. Funds have been used continuously to retain and attract exceptional teachers - Maintain programming - FHPS continues to provide comprehensive educational
programming in small-school environments where each child receives specialized focus
and attention.
Enhancement millage dollars
Forest Hills has received the following enhancement millage dollars
- 2017-18 amount received - $2,105,430.43
- 2018-19 amount received - $2,215,481.44
- 2019-20 amount received - $2,304,181.49
- 2020-21 amount received - $2,410,831.18
- 2021-22 amount received - $2,430,417.23
- 2022-23 amount received - $2,627,270.09
- 2023-24 amount received - $2,784,837.94
- 2024-25 amount expected - $2,956,373.55
Mission
In partnership with our community, Forest Hills Public Schools will provide all learners with opportunities to acquire the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to build meaningful and productive lives.
About Our District
The Forest Hills Public School District was founded in 1956 when residents in 13 neighboring one-room schoolhouses consolidated into one district. Their goal was to build a high school for their children and provide a quality education to help children be successful. Today, the Forest Hills district has grown to serve over 9,000 students and includes 18 school buildings, a fine arts center, an aquatic building and senior center, and many more buildings to service our residents, families, students and staff. The Forest Hills district is one of the largest geographic districts in Michigan, as it encompasses approximately 68 square miles.
Every year, we welcome new families and students to Forest Hills Public Schools. Although we service over 9,000 students, we pride ourselves on small class sizes. Our student to teacher ratio is typically 25:1 or less. We feel that moderately-sized schools with manageable size classrooms help the district feel smaller and enable us to stay more connected.
The staff at Forest Hills Public Schools is committed to knowing every student’s interests and gifts and providing educational opportunities that will maximize each student’s preparation for the future. In Forest Hills, our Board of Education leads the way in making every decision based on “what’s best for kids.”
Proof of our commitment to academic excellence can be found in the resources and programs available to students and their families.
The Forest Hills Public Schools Consists of the Following School Building Configurations:
• Five K-4 elementary schools
• Two K-6 elementary schools
• One K-4 Spanish Immersion School
• Two 5-6 only schools
• One 5-6 environmental school
• Two 7-8 middle schools and one 6-8 middle school
• Three 9-12 high schools
• One transition center for young adults with differing abilities
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Superintendent, Benjamin Kirby
