LIGHTHOUSE ACADEMY WAALKES

Lighthouse Academy Waalkes is a public charter school that is part of the Lighthouse Academy school district, located in Grand Rapids, MI with about 65 students offering grade levels from Kindergarten to 12th Grade. With about 6 teachers, Lighthouse Academy Waalkes has a student/teacher ratio of about 10:1. The national average for public schools is about 15:1. A lower student/teacher ratio is a key factor that determines how much a teacher can devote his/her time to each individual student thus improving, or reducing (in the event of a higher student/teacher ratio) the attention each student is given for their educational needs.

Lighthouse Academy—Waalkes, located on Cedar Street NE in Grand Rapids, is part of the Lighthouse Academy network, which specializes in providing alternative education opportunities for students who have struggled in traditional school settings. The school is designed to serve a diverse student body, including those who are at-risk of dropping out, students transitioning from the juvenile justice system, or those who simply need a more personalized and flexible learning environment to achieve academic success.

The academy emphasizes a supportive, trauma-informed approach to education, focusing on both academic credit recovery and the social-emotional development of its students. By offering smaller class sizes and individualized instructional plans, Lighthouse Academy—Waalkes aims to remove barriers to graduation. Their mission centers on empowering students to overcome personal obstacles, earn their high school diplomas, and prepare for post-secondary opportunities, whether that be higher education, vocational training, or direct entry into the workforce.

For more information, contact Lighthouse Academy Waalkes at (616) 617-9321 or visit the school personally to speak with a faculty or administrative member about any specific questions you may have.