Lighthouse Academy Waalkes

As an one-room-style all-grades campus in GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, Lighthouse Academy Waalkes caters to 73 students from grades K through 12, overseen by Lighthouse Academy. Compared to the state average of about 281 students per school, that is 74% smaller than typical.

Within Lighthouse Academy, which oversees 9 schools and 404 students, Lighthouse Academy Waalkes is one campus in the system.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Lighthouse Academy Waalkes shows that the largest single group is Black, at 56% of enrollment. Beyond that, the school logs 23% White, 14% Hispanic, 7% multiracial. The wider county runs roughly 10% Black, putting the school's mix visibly more Black than the area baseline.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Lighthouse Academy Waalkes shows 7 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 10.5:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 17.3:1, putting Lighthouse Academy Waalkes tighter than the state norm the norm. Around 96% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. Set against Kent County (around 47%), the school's rate is meaningfully above typical.

In the surrounding community, census data for Kent County shows median household income runs about $82,631, roughly 41% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. In all, Kent County runs 239 public schools (combined enrollment of about 97,253 students), of which Lighthouse Academy Waalkes is one.

Nearest neighbor: Lighthouse Academy The Pier, around 0.4 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Lighthouse Academy Waalkes.

The campus sits in an urban setting. Lighthouse Academy Waalkes 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. Over the past 7-year window, the student count climbed 12%: 65 students in 2018 compared to 73 in 2025. Over the same period, the Black share edged down from 63% to 56%.

On the community side, members of the Lighthouse Academy Waalkes community share and discuss school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.