Career and Alternative Pathways to Education Center

636 PIPESTONE ST
BENTON HARBOR, MI 49022

(269)605-1900

86 Students

Other K - 12th

School Overview

Dream Academy Alternative School of Choice, located on Union Avenue in Benton Harbor, Michigan, serves as a specialized educational environment designed to support students who may not thrive in a traditional classroom setting. As an "alternative school of choice," the institution focuses on providing flexible pathways to graduation, offering a tailored approach that prioritizes student engagement, credit recovery, and individualized academic support to help students overcome barriers to success.

The school is committed to fostering a supportive community for the youth of Benton Harbor, emphasizing personal growth alongside academic achievement. By maintaining a smaller, more focused setting, Dream Academy allows educators to provide the personalized attention necessary for students to develop the skills, confidence, and graduation requirements needed to transition successfully into post-secondary education, vocational training, or the workforce.

Total Students

1.2

Full-Time Teachers

71.7

Student/Teacher Ratio

66.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Career and Alternative Pathways to Education Center
Demographic	Student Count
White	8
Hispanic	1
Black	75
Two or More	2

Black
75 (87.2 %)
White
8 (9.3 %)
Two or More
2 (2.3 %)
Hispanic
1 (1.2 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Other
School Type:	Alternative School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Primarily virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Benton Harbor Area Schools
Phone:	(269)605-1900
Grade Range:	K - 12th
Total Students:	86
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	1.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	71.7
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	57
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* 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

Kindergarten 1

Grade 1 2

Grade 2 1

Grade 4 2

Grade 5 1

Grade 6 5

Grade 8 2

Grade 9 6

Grade 10 13

Grade 11 23

Grade 12 30