Paragon Charter Academy

paragon.heritageacademies.com/

Charter School 627 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 8th

School Overview

Paragon Charter Academy, located in Jackson, Michigan, is a tuition-free public charter school serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Operated as part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA) network, the school emphasizes a structured academic environment grounded in a "moral focus" curriculum. This program is designed to integrate character development—focusing on traits like integrity, respect, and responsibility—alongside rigorous core academic instruction to help prepare students for success in high school and beyond.

The academy follows a back-to-basics educational philosophy, placing a strong emphasis on core subjects such as English language arts and mathematics. By fostering a partnership between teachers, parents, and students, Paragon Charter Academy aims to create a supportive community that prioritizes high expectations and consistent student achievement. The school’s approach is centered on the belief that a combination of academic discipline and character-building is essential for cultivating well-rounded, successful citizens.

627

Total Students

35.2

Full-Time Teachers

17.8

Student/Teacher Ratio

63.8%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Paragon Charter Academy
Demographic	Student Count
White	263
Hispanic	78
Black	138
Asian	50
Two or More	96
American Indian	1
Pacific Islander	1

White
263 (41.9%)
Black
138 (22.0%)
Two or More
96 (15.3%)
Hispanic
78 (12.4%)
Asian
50 (8.0%)
American Indian
1 (0.2%)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.2%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Paragon Charter Academy
Phone:	(517)750-9500
Website:	http://paragon.heritageacademies.com/
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 8th
Total Students:	627
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	35.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	17.8
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	322
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	78

* 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 92

Grade 1 73

Grade 2 76

Grade 3 73

Grade 4 75

Grade 5 71

Grade 6 60

Grade 7 61

Grade 8 46