Grand Rapids Public Schools will soon host its annual School Choice Expo and Family Harvest Festival.
The Expo will be held Thursday, October 18. It’s a free, family friendly event, with fun activities, games and food. But it mainly showcases all that GRPS has to offer. We talked with GRPS Spokesperson, John Helmholdt.
“We have a diverse portfolio of schools that includes not only your tradition neighborhood schools but we have specialty schools known as Theme schools and these are some of the most top performing schools. This is City High Middle school, the top performing high school, Zoo School, Blanford, the Museum School.”
School Officials say the district boasts the largest selection of school choices in all of West Michigan. With that in mind, Helmholdt says the expo allows parents to examine each school opportunity and what might be the best fit for their child.
“And parents have to fill out a theme school application. That window opened October first, and goes until January 31st. And so the school choice Expo is a chance for parents to meet the principals, get information on all their school choices and then begin the process of applying.”
Registration for the Theme Schools began October first and is open until January 31st. Helmholdt does offer a word of caution. He says parents should get their applications in sooner than later as some of the Theme Schools fill up quickly. He adds, they’ve started a new, online application process. Just go to “apply.grps.org”. Paper applications are also available.
