West Ottawa Public Schools

West Ottawa Public Schools
Address
1138 136th Avenue [1] Holland , Ottawa , Michigan , 49424 United States
District information
Grades	Pre-Kindergarten-12
Superintendent	Tim Bearden [2]
Schools	13 [3]
Budget	$131,389,000 2021-2022 expenditures [3]
NCES District ID	2635910 [3]
Students and staff
Students	6,708 (2023-2024) [3]
Teachers	426.2 FTE (2023-2024) [3]
Staff	852.27 FTE (2023-2024) [3]
Student–teacher ratio	15.74 [3]
Other information
Website	www.westottawa.net

West Ottawa Public Schools is a public school district in Ottawa County, Michigan, near the city of Holland. It serves Beechwood and Park Township and parts of Holland Township, Olive Township, and Port Sheldon Township. ^[4]

History

In 1957, residents in the neighborhoods north of Lake Macatawa voted to separate from Holland Public Schools. In 1958, the thirteen small districts within the current district's boundaries consolidated with the separated district in order to have a high school of their own. Suburban High School, later renamed West Ottawa High School, was completed in fall 1961. It became Harbor Lights Middle School when a new high school was built. ^{[5] [6]}

In 1999, a middle school was built at 3600 152nd Avenue. It became West Ottawa High School South when High School North opened on the same site in fall 2005. The middle school program housed there, Harbor Lights Middle School, moved to the former high school. ^[7] North and South high schools are one high school in two separate buildings on the same campus. High School North's architect was Design Plus/Progressive Architecture and Engineering. ^[8]

In 2024, a 1,200-seat auditorium opened at High School North. ^[9]

Schools

Schools in West Ottawa Public Schools district ^{[10] [3]}

School	Address	Notes
Riley Farms Elementary	2612 120th Ave., Holland	Grades K-5. Opening fall 2025.
Woodside Elementary	2591 N. Division Ave., Holland	Grades PreK-5
Waukazoo Elementary	1294 W. Lakewood Blvd., Holland	Grades PreK-5
Sheldon Woods Elementary	15050 Blair, West Olive	Grades PreK-5
Pine Creek Elementary	1184 136th Ave., Holland	Grades PreK-5
North Holland Elementary	11946 New Holland St., Holland	Grades K-5
Lakewood Elementary	2134 W. Lakewood Blvd., Holland	Grades PreK-5
Lakeshore Elementary	3765 N. 168 Ave., Holland	Grades PreK-5
Great Lakes Elementary	3200 152nd Ave., Holland	Grades PreK-5
West Ottawa High School	3685 Buttnernut Dr., Holland	Grades 9-12. Consists of High School North and High School South on a single campus.
The Dunes Alternative High School	3685 Butternut Dr., Holland	Grades 9-12. Housed in West Ottawa High School North.
Harbor Lights Middle School	1024 136th Ave., Holland	Grades 6-8. Built 1961, formerly West Ottawa High School. [11]
Macatawa Bay Middle School	3700 140th Ave., Holland	Grades 6-8

References

1. West Ottawa Public Schools. "West Ottawa Public Schools" . Retrieved April 25, 2025.
2. West Ottawa Public Schools. "Superintendent" . Retrieved April 25, 2025.
3. "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for West Ottawa Public Schools". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences.
4. Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget. "Ottawa County School Districts" (PDF). Retrieved April 25, 2025.
5. Kloosterman, Stephen (September 19, 2008). "WO turns 50: District has evolved during past half-century". The Holland Sentinel.
6. Israels, Ethan (April 26, 2016). "West Ottawa throughout the decades". The West Ottawan.
7. Reinstadler, Kym (June 13, 2005). "Day-care program for students cut". Grand Rapids Press. p. L1.
8. Project Presenter. "West Ottawa Public School - North High School".
9. GDK Construction. "WEST OTTAWA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER".
10. West Ottawa Public Schools. "Our Schools" . Retrieved April 25, 2025.
11. Kloosterman, Stephen (September 19, 2008). "WO turns 50: District has evolved during past half-century". The Holland Sentinel.

External links

• Michigan portal
• Schools portal

• Official website