Forest Hills School District is one of the top Grand Rapids, Michigan Area Schools, and we’re going to take a deeper dive into the Forest Hills School District in West Michigan and highlight three locations that you definitely need to be aware of if you’re thinking about relocating.

What is it about the Forest Hills School District area?

If you’re thinking about moving to the Grand Rapids area, one neighborhood you’re going to hear over and over is the Forest Hills School District. And it’s easy to see why. Within this area, you’ll find a top-tier school district, amazing parks, a strong community vibe, and the three vibrant areas that we’re going to talk about are the heartbeat of the Forest Hills District. So, we’ll dive into what it’s like to live in each of these communities, the schools, recreation, neighborhoods, business life, and everything else that makes sense for you to consider while thinking about relocating to this area in West Michigan. 

Grand Rapids Suburb, Ada

Let’s start with our first business district within the Forest Hills School District, Ada. Ada itself is a perfectly charmed community with a historical feel. It’s undergone a major transformation and essentially redeveloped and built an entirely new community. The Ada village has become one of the most walkable, livable, and picturesque communities in the entire region. 

Outdoor lovers are going to fall in love with the endless amounts of green space this community has to offer. There are multiple parks in this area, including Roselle Park, Seidman Park, and miles of paved trails for biking or walking. There are several sports fields, and you can even enjoy some kayaking along the Thornapple River. In this area, there’s a huge focus on wellness and nature, making it a positive place to be. 

Ada is home to both Forest Hills Eastern and Forest Hills Central High Schools. There is Ada Elementary right down the road from Ada. All of the Forest Hills School District is known for very strong academics, caring teachers, and safe, supportive environments. 

There are several popular neighborhoods around the Ada area. Within walking distance, you’ll find Adacroft Commons, which is a classic tree-lined community. The village of Ada is creating a lot of new housing right now with all of this redevelopment work.

Jumping into the business district itself, it’s centered around the village of Ada. There’s a mix of old restaurants, like Nonna’s Pantry, which has been there forever. And then you’ll also find a lot of new restaurants and businesses that have come in, like the Ada Hotel, boutiques, coffee shops, and anything and everything you could need. From morning yoga to outdoor concerts, this community has it all and is just 20 minutes from Downtown Grand Rapids while providing you with the small-town feel with city convenience. 

The Cascade Area of Forest Hills

Moving on to the Cascade District within Forest Hills, located just south of Ada. Known for its upscale, established neighborhoods, top-ranked schools, and an incredible atmosphere. Most of Cascade kind of follows the Thornapple River, so if you like recreation, it is plentiful in the Cascade area. Starting with the Cascade Peace Park, which features over 200 acres of rolling hills, woods, and trails. But let’s get into a little bit more of the Cascade Road business hub. This area is right around the Cascade and 28th Street intersection, providing quick, easy access to one of the busiest retail streets in West Michigan, 28th Street. Along this corridor, you will find plenty of shopping, coffee shops, restaurants like Cascade Roadhouse, and entertainment options, including fowling. Right around the corner is the Cascade Library, which is an absolutely loved local spot for all ages. 

The Forest Hills Central and Middle Schools are between Ada and Cascade, so both of these communities really serve Central High School. One of the elementary schools that’s within close proximity to Cascade is Pine Ridge Elementary, which offers excellent programs and a very tight community connection.

There’s certainly a mix of old and new neighborhoods in this area. If you’re driving along the Thornapple River, you’ll see many communities built in the ’60s and ‘70s, but right off of Cascade Road, you’ll still find many newer communities. There’s Manchester Hills, Tammarron, Tammarron North, and the Watermark Golf Club. 

As far as the location, it’s a little bit closer to Downtown Grand Rapids with a 10 to 15 minute drive, and this area also puts you closer to the airport. Out of the three areas that we’re talking about in Forest Hills, the Cascade area is going to put you pretty close to the Gerald R. Ford Airport, with about an eight to 10 minute drive. You’re close to all major freeways and expressway access, so definitely a great location. 

Knapp’s Corner in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Let’s head north to Knapp’s Corner, the newest and fastest-growing area. Compared to Cascade and Ada, this is going to feel like a little bit more of a retail convenience location. While it’s a convenient place to be, you’re probably not going to feel that small village feel like you may with Ada or Cascade. Knapp’s Corner is convenient to many restaurants, shopping opportunities, and much more. Residents of this area are typically mixed between Forest Hills Northern and Forest Hills Eastern. There are Knapp Forest Elementary and Orchard View Elementary, known for strong academics, extracurricular activities, and overall great culture. 

Even though it’s a heavy retail area, Knapp’s Corner definitely has some great outdoor spots. If you head north up to 4 Mile, you’ll run into Provin Trails, you’re right on the border of Robinette’s Orchard, and in this area, you’ll also be connected to the miles of paved walking trails. You’ll find some incredible hiking and awesome parks in the area. 

In the Knapp’s Corner area, you’ll find some great neighborhoods like Waterleaf and Orchards Community. You’ll get a good mix of newer construction homes and homes that were built in the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ‘90s. This is a very highly sought-after area for real estate and certainly a great place to invest.

As mentioned, this is the most commercially developed area in Forest Hills. In the Knapp’s Corner space, you’ll find retailers like DSW, Celebration Cinema, Meijer, and plenty of banks, restaurants, and salons. You’ll also find the team favorite, Licari’s Pizza Kitchen. It’s an absolute luxury to be this close to so many places you could need.

When it comes to getting around town, Knapp’s Corner is just 15 minutes from downtown with quick access to 196, so you’ll really get a good feel of the ease of suburban living with quick city access. 

When people relocate to the area, they’re understandably not sure where to live, so we hope this helps you get some perspective on your options if you’re looking to live within the Forest Hills School District. If you’re looking to make the move within this Grand Rapids School District or even another part of the greater Grand Rapids area, definitely connect with our team of Grand Rapids real estate experts today.