Kalamazoo: Education and Research

Cities of the United States, (2005)

Kalamazoo: Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

The students in Kalamazoo's schools have access to the Education for Employment (EFE) program, which helps them in planning for their future careers, as well as the Education for the Arts (EFA) program, which enhances their art education with dance, literary arts, media arts, music, theater, and visual arts classes. The Kalamazoo Area Mathematics & Science Center offers accelerated programs in math, science, and technology to public and private high school students.

The following is a summary of data regarding the Kalamazoo public school system as of the 2004–2005 school year.

Total enrollment: 10,500

Number of facilities

elementary schools: 16

middle schools: 3

senior high schools: 2

other: 8

Student/teacher ratio: 17:1

Teacher salaries

average: $54,020

Funding per pupil: $9,304 (2002-2003)

Approximately 1,500 Kalamazoo students attend local Christian schools, more than 1,700 attend Catholic schools, and about 500 attend other non-public schools.

Public Schools Information: Kalamazoo Public Schools, 1220 Howard St., Kalamazoo, MI 49008; telephone (269)337-0100

Colleges and Universities

Kalamazoo is the site of two universities and two colleges. Western Michigan University (WMU), one of the top public research universities in the country, offers 254 degree and certificate programs to its nearly 28,000 students. Its wide array of centers and institutes conduct research and share knowledge gained with business, government, and other organizations. U.S. News and World Report magazine has consistently ranked WMU as a leading national university throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

Kalamazoo College, Michigan's oldest (founded in 1833), is located in Kalamazoo's historic district and offers its 1,234 students bachelor of arts degree programs in 25 majors and 9 areas of concentration, such as international and area studies, environmental studies, public policy and urban affairs, and others. Among its 19 buildings and facilities are the Dow Science Center, and the Stryker Center, which offers seminars in business and management.

Libraries and Research Centers

With a stunning granite and limestone exterior, the Kalamazoo Public Library has a four-level rotunda that admits natural light through a skylight via a 79-foot dome. The library's five buildings feature holographic materials and light sculptures that result in an ever-changing rainbow of colors. In addition to the main branch the library maintains four branches and one bookmobile, contains roughly 436,000 volumes and has special collections in history, culture, African American studies, and Kalamazoo history.

Davenport University, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and Western Michigan University all have libraries. The W. E. Upjohn Institute Library has titles focusing on labor market issues, and state and local economic development, among other topics. Borgess Health Information Library has a special community health information section, and Bronson Methodist Hospital Library focuses on allied and consumer health issues.

Two research centers in Kalamazoo are the Kalamazoo Nature Center and the W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. Western Michigan University is the site of several research and technology centers and also has centers focusing on computer graphics, design excellence, environmental signal transduction, and biological imaging, Black Americana studies, business, women's studies, and ethics.

Public Library Information: Kalamazoo Public Library, 315 S. Rose St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007; telephone (269)342-9837