Godfrey-Lee Public Schools

Last updated

Godfrey-Lee Public Schools
Address
1414 Burton Street SW [1]
Wyoming
, Kent County , Michigan , 49509
United States
District information
GradesPre-Kindergarten-12
SuperintendentArnetta Thompson [2]
Schools5 [3]
Budget$30,951,000 2021-2022 expenditures [3]
NCES District ID 2616080 [3]
Students and staff
Students1,737 (2023-2024) [3]
Teachers97.2 (on an FTE basis) (2023-2024) [3]
Staff240.26 FTE (2023-2024) [3]
Student–teacher ratio17.87 (2023-2024) [3]
Other information
Website www.godfrey-lee.org

Godfrey-Lee Public Schools is a public school district in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. It serves part of the city of Wyoming [4] and, at 1.4 square miles, is the smallest district in Michigan by land area. [2]

Contents

History

The first school in the northeast area of Wyoming was built in 1857. In 1894, Godfrey Street School was built on the site of the current Godfrey Elementary. Ninth and tenth grades were added in 1909. To ease overcrowding there, Lee Street High School, later known as Lee High School, was built in 1923. [5] A new wing was added in 1926. [6]

A 1949 article in the Grand Rapids Press discussed the possibility of annexing the district into Grand Rapids Public Schools and included photographs of the district's two schools, Lee High School and Godfrey School. At the time, Grand Rapids was annexing several neighboring districts. According to Grand Rapids Public Schools business manager H. P. Herrinton, “Grand Rapids is not interested in operating (Godfrey-Lee Public Schools) from a financial standpoint. It is not a rich district.” [7]

The district prospered independently. In 1950, Godfrey School's replacement was being planned, along with new additions to Lee High School that included a gymnasium. The high school woodworking class used the blueprints to make scale models to illustrate the buildings to the community. [8] Construction began in 1959 on another addition to the high school. [9]

The Early Childhood Center opened in fall 1999. [10] A bond issue was passed in 2020 that included renovations and expansions at Lee High School, completed in fall 2023. [11]

Lee High School sports teams had called themselves the "Lee Rebels" since 1936. [12] In 2019, the district sought to distance itself from any association with Robert E. Lee and the Confederate States Army by changing its mascot to the Legends. The Native American Heritage Fund donated funds to help with the costs of rebranding, such as new signage, because as then-superintendent Kevin Polston said, "While Rebels does not disparage Native Americans, any component of an organization that is harmful to its community is worthy of funding consideration." [13] In March 2020, the district unveiled its current dragon logo. [12]

Schools

Schools in Godfrey-Lee Public Schools district [14] [3]
SchoolAddressNotes
Lee High School 1335 Lee Street, SW WyomingGrades 9–12. Built 1923. [5]
Lee Middle School1335 Lee Street, SW WyomingGrades 6–8. Shares a building with Lee High School.
East Lee Campus982 Lee Street, SW WyomingAlternative/Online education
Godfrey Elementary1920 Godfrey Street, SW WyomingGrades 3-5. Built 1950. [8]
Early Childhood Center961 Joosten Street, SW WyomingGrades PreK-2. Built 1999. [10]

References

  1. ↑ Godfrey-Lee Public Schools. "Godfrey-Lee Public Schools" . Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Godfrey-Lee Public Schools. "Superintendent" . Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Godfrey-Lee Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences.
  4. ↑ Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Kent County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Britten, David. "The Lee Street School turns 90" . Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  6. ↑ Editorial staff of Lee High School yearbook. Annual 1926, Lee High School. p. 34.
  7. ↑ "Godfrey-Lee Schools fears of GUB annexation met by city spokesmen". Grand Rapids Press. March 24, 1949. p. 41.
  8. 1 2 "Complete plywood models of new Godfrey-Lee school". Grand Rapids Press. March 22, 1950. p. 34.
  9. ↑ "Seeks bids on wing". Grand Rapids Press. August 19, 1959. p. 44.
  10. 1 2 Morrison, Gary W. (September 24, 1998). "Principal gets jump on next year". Grand Rapids Press. p. 33.
  11. ↑ Godfrey-Lee Public Schools. "Bond Project- Progress Pictures" . Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  12. 1 2 McVicar, Brian (March 31, 2020). "Godfrey-Lee unveils new mascot, logo after dropping 'Rebels'". MLive.
  13. ↑ Scott, Monica (September 19, 2019). "Native American Heritage Fund joins other donors to support Godfrey-Lee rebrand from 'Rebels' to 'Legends'". Grand Rapids Press. p. A4.
  14. ↑ Godfrey-Lee Public Schools. "Schools" . Retrieved October 30, 2025.
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