Cesar Chavez High School

www.chavezwaterman.com

Charter School 705 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

Cesar Chavez High School is a public charter high school located in the Springwells neighborhood of Southwest Detroit. Operated as part of the Southwest Detroit Lighthouse Charter Academy network, the school focuses on providing a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum within a supportive, community-centered environment. It is designed to serve a predominantly Hispanic student population, often emphasizing cultural appreciation alongside academic achievement in STEM, humanities, and bilingual support.

The school is known for its commitment to the legacy of its namesake, labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, by promoting values of social justice, service, and civic engagement. In addition to standard high school coursework, the campus typically offers extracurricular opportunities, athletics, and mentorship programs aimed at ensuring students are prepared for post-secondary education and career success in an increasingly globalized workforce.

705

Total Students

37.3

Full-Time Teachers

18.9

Student/Teacher Ratio

100.6%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Cesar Chavez High School
Demographic	Student Count
White	16
Hispanic	662
Black	22
Two or More	5

Hispanic
662 (93.9 %)
Black
22 (3.1 %)
White
16 (2.3 %)
Two or More
5 (0.7 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Cesar Chavez Academy
Phone:	(313)551-0611
Website:	http://www.chavezwaterman.com
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	705
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	37.3
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	18.9
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	696
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	13

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 9 201

Grade 10 185

Grade 11 153

Grade 12 166