Life Skills Center

www.northwested.org

71 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

The Life Skills Center in Traverse City, Michigan, is a specialized educational facility operated under the umbrella of the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District (TBAISD). The program is specifically designed to support students with significant cognitive, physical, or multiple impairments. By focusing on individualized education programs (IEPs), the school provides a highly structured environment that emphasizes functional academic skills, communication development, and essential life activities necessary for fostering student independence.

Beyond traditional classroom instruction, the Life Skills Center prioritizes a holistic approach to student growth, integrating therapeutic services and community-based instruction. The center works closely with families and district partners to ensure that each student receives tailored support that transitions them toward greater autonomy. By providing a safe, inclusive, and resource-rich setting, the school plays a critical role in the TBAISD mission to serve students with diverse learning needs in the Northern Michigan region.

Total Students

20.0

Full-Time Teachers

3.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

59.2%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Life Skills Center
Demographic	Student Count
White	63
Hispanic	2
Black	2
Asian	2
American Indian	2

White
63 (88.7 %)
Hispanic
2 (2.8 %)
Black
2 (2.8 %)
Asian
2 (2.8 %)
American Indian
2 (2.8 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Special Education School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Northwest Education Services
Phone:	(231)922-6357
Website:	http://www.northwested.org
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	71
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	20.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	3.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	41
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

Ungraded 71