Lighthouse Academy South Campus

Lighthouse Academy South Campus operates as an intimate unified-grade school in GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, run under Lighthouse Academy. Current enrollment sits at 213 students spanning grades K through 12. Compared to the state average of about 281 students per school, that is 24% leaner than typical.

Across the 9 schools in Lighthouse Academy (404 students total), Lighthouse Academy South Campus accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Lighthouse Academy South Campus logs that 49% of students identify as Black, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups. Beyond that, the school shows 22% White, 22% Hispanic, 4% multiracial, 3% Asian. The wider county runs roughly 10% Black, putting the school's mix noticeably more Black than the area baseline.

In terms of school funding signals, Staff filings list 17 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 12.5:1 students per teacher. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 17.3:1, putting Lighthouse Academy South Campus tighter than the state norm the norm. About 93% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. Set against Kent County (around 47%), the school's rate is somewhat above typical.

Zooming out to the county, census data for Kent County shows the typical household earns roughly $82,631 per year, about 41% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 6%. Across Kent County's 239 public schools (combined enrollment of about 97,253 students), Lighthouse Academy South Campus is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is PrepNet Virtual Academy, roughly 0.7 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

The campus sits in a city-core setting. Lighthouse Academy South Campus operates as a public charter school, meaning it is publicly funded but governed independently of the surrounding district's traditional schools.

Looking at the recent track record. Lighthouse Academy South Campus's enrollment has edged up 68% since 2018, when it stood at 127 (now 213). Over the same period, the White share shrank from 47% to 22%. Class-load math has rose: from 9.2:1 in 2018 to 12.5:1 in 2025.

Within the allk12 community for this school, recent activity here tends to focus on classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. The community welcomes input from current and former families.