Average
#1078 of 3,192 schools in MI
Top 34% in state
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes
School · Lighthouse Academy · Grand Rapids, MI
A charter school in Grand Rapids, MI where students score 10 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1501 CEDAR ST NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
- Math 25% proficient (2021)
- Reading 25% proficient (2021)
- 2/5 advanced STEM subjects
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Lighthouse Academy Waalkes score 25% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 15%).
2021 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 10-year record (2012–2021), then recovered 15 points since 2016, reaching 25% in 2021.
Show all 8 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 21% (multi-year average, 2012-2021) · reading/ELA 21% (multi-year average, 2012-2021)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 16 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
96.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Lighthouse Academy Waalkes sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 53Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 32Some Transit
- Bike 41Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,416/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Grand Rapids), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$61,734
Median home value
$224,100
Median rent
$1,207/mo
College educated
43.9%
Homeownership
37.5%
Poverty rate
22.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 49503; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.8private | K–12 | 0.3 mi | 195 | Compare → |
| Bethany Based SchoolEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | 4–12 | 0.9 mi | 17 | Compare → |
| Home Education SiteEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | 1–12 | 1.1 mi | 1 | Compare → |
| Lighthouse Academy Eagle VillageCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.3 | K–12 | Not available | 35 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Lighthouse Academy
- Schools in district
- 8
- Rank in district
- #2 of 3
- District spending per student
- $21,047NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- The source release did not match this district identifier.
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes is listed in Lighthouse Academy; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Lighthouse Academy Waalkes
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes is a public school in Grand Rapids, MI, part of Lighthouse Academy, serving approximately 80 students in grades Kindergarten-12th with a 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 out of 10 and ranks #1,078 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2021) and 21% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2021).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Lighthouse Academy Waalkes
What grades does Lighthouse Academy Waalkes serve?
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.
How many students attend Lighthouse Academy Waalkes?
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes has an enrollment of approximately 80 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lighthouse Academy Waalkes?
The student-teacher ratio at Lighthouse Academy Waalkes is 13.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Lighthouse Academy Waalkes rank in MI?
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes ranks #1,078 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Lighthouse Academy Waalkes's MySchoolScout rating?
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Lighthouse Academy Waalkes?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Lighthouse Academy Waalkes has 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2021) and 21% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2021).
Is Lighthouse Academy Waalkes a charter school?
Yes, Lighthouse Academy Waalkes is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is Lighthouse Academy Waalkes a Title I school?
No, Lighthouse Academy Waalkes is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Lighthouse Academy Waalkes?
96.2% of students at Lighthouse Academy Waalkes qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 12th
- Enrollment
- 80
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 6
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Kent County
- Phone
- (616) 304-8537
- Area population (ZIP 49503)
- 37,874
- Area average commute
- 19.2 min
- Area median age
- 30.9
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2021 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2021 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 49503; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2012-2021; directory SY 2023–24
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