Godwin Heights Public Schools

Last updated

Godwin Heights Public Schools
Address
15 36th Street SW [1]
, Kent County , Michigan, 49548
United States
District information
GradesPre-Kindergarten-12
SuperintendentChad Conklin [2]
Schools5 [3]
Budget$40,221,000 2021-2022 expenditures [3]
NCES District ID 2616110 [3]
Students and staff
Students1,993 (2023-2024) [3]
Teachers117.34 (on an FTE basis) (2023-2024) [3]
Staff289.33 FTE (2023-2024) [3]
Student–teacher ratio16.98 (2023-2024) [3]
Other information
Website www.godwinschools.org

Godwin Heights Public Schools is a public school district in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. It serves parts of Wyoming and Grand Rapids. [4]

Contents

History

The Godwin area was named for Augustus Godwin, an early pioneer and county supervisor. The first school in the Godwin area was a one-room schoolhouse built in 1837. A new school was built in 1867, marking the official founding of the school district. [5]

In 1924, a school was built at the northwest corner of 36th Street and Division Avenue South, on the site of the current high school. It housed all grades in the district, which had about 100 students at the time. The first class graduated from the building in 1927. It was torn down in 1974, after the current high school was built. [6]

A new high school, currently used as the district's middle school, [7] opened in fall 1929. A time capsule was placed in the building's cornerstone. [8] The west wing was added in 1939, and the east wing added in 1941. Labor for the east wing's construction was provided by the Works Progress Administration. [9] The former K-12 school became a junior high when the 1929 high school opened. [5]

The Physical Education Building, designed by the architecture firm Louis C. Kingscott and Associates, [10] opened in 1959. [11] When the current high school was built, the Physical Education Building was retained and connected to the new high school by a corridor.

The current Godwin High School opened in February 1973. With a 1,000-seat auditorium and a 65-seat planetarium, the Grand Rapids Press called the building "the ultimate in equipment and comforts conducive to learning." The former high school was converted to a middle school. [12]

Schools

Godwin Heights High School
Location
Godwin Heights Public Schools
50 35th Street SW

,
Michigan
49548

United States
Coordinates 42°54′01″N85°40′01″W / 42.900170°N 85.666900°W / 42.900170; -85.666900 (Godwin Heights High School)
Information
School districtGodwin Heights Public Schools
PrincipalMichael Porco [13]
Teaching staff35.03 (FTE) (2023–2024) [14]
Enrollment653 (2023–2024) [14]
Student to teacher ratio18.63 (2023–2024) [14]
Color(s)  Navy   Gold
Athletics conference
MascotWolverines [15]
Website hs.godwinschools.org
Schools in Godwin Heights Public Schools district [7]
SchoolAddressNotes
Godwin Heights High School50 35th Street SW, WyomingGrades 9–12. Built 1973. [12] Physical Education Building built 1959. [11]
Godwin Heights Learning Center3529 S Division, WyomingAlternative high school housed within Godwin Heights High School.
Godwin Heights Middle School100 Wexford Street SE, WyomingGrades 6–8. Built 1929. [8]
North Godwin Elementary161 34th Street SW, WyomingGrades 3–5
West Godwin Elementary3546 Clyde Park Ave SW, WyomingGrades K–2
Godwin Heights Early Childhood Center28 Bellevue St SE, Grand RapidsPreschool

References

  1. Godwin Heights Public Schools. "Godwin Heights Public Schools" . Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  2. Godwin Heights Public Schools. "Administration" . Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Godwin Heights 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 3, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Editorial staff of Godwin Heights High School yearbook. Wolverine 1967 (Godwin Heights High School yearbook 1967). pp. 2–3.
  6. Kramer, Mary (August 5, 1974). "School razing turns up sheriff as a boy scout". Grand Rapids Press. p. 17.
  7. 1 2 Godwin Heights Public Schools. "Schools menu" . Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Lay cornerstone of new school". Grand Rapids Press. July 25, 1929. p. 29.
  9. "Enlarged Godwin Heights High School to greet students on Monday". Grand Rapids Press. September 4, 1941. p. 3.
  10. "Local firm plans huge fieldhouse". Grand Rapids Press. March 15, 1959. p. 6.
  11. 1 2 "Godwin school seeks gym chief". Grand Rapids Press. February 3, 1958. p. 25.
  12. 1 2 Bloom, Jack (February 28, 1973). "Godwin opens new high school". Grand Rapids Press. p. 2C.
  13. "Principal's Message – About". Godwin Heights High School. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 "Search for Public Schools - Godwin Heights Senior High School (261611005261)". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  15. 1 2 "Godwin Heights HS". Michigan High School Athletic Association . Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  16. "Silver Division". Ottawa-Kent Conference . Retrieved February 8, 2023.