Youth Advancement Academy

www.kresa.org/Page/1931

Charter School 29 Students

High School 7th - 12th

School Overview

The **Youth Advancement Academy (YAA)**, located on Chime Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is a specialized educational institution designed to serve students who may struggle in traditional school environments. Operated in partnership with the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA), the academy focuses on providing a structured, supportive, and alternative pathway for middle and high school students. The school emphasizes individualized learning plans, smaller class sizes, and a strong focus on behavioral and academic intervention to help students regain credit and achieve graduation.

Beyond academics, the academy places a significant priority on restorative practices, character development, and social-emotional learning. By fostering a close-knit community, the staff works to build positive relationships with students to address the underlying challenges that have hindered their past success. The ultimate goal of the Youth Advancement Academy is to empower its students with the skills, confidence, and educational foundation necessary to transition back into mainstream schooling, pursue higher education, or enter the workforce successfully.

Total Students

1.3

Full-Time Teachers

22.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

58.6%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Youth Advancement Academy
Demographic	Student Count
White	8
Black	21

Black
21 (72.4 %)
White
8 (27.6 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	Primarily virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Youth Advancement Academy
Phone:	(269)443-7740
Website:	http://www.kresa.org/Page/1931
Grade Range:	7th - 12th
Total Students:	29
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	1.3
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	22.3
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	16
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	1

* 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 7 1

Grade 8 4

Grade 9 3

Grade 10 9

Grade 11 7

Grade 12 5