Great Lakes Academy

www.greatlakesacademy.org

Charter School 162 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

Great Lakes Academy, located on Woodward Avenue in Pontiac, Michigan, is a public charter school serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The school operates with a focus on providing a structured, rigorous academic environment designed to prepare students for success in high school and beyond. By emphasizing foundational literacy and mathematics alongside character development, the academy aims to bridge achievement gaps and foster a supportive community for families in the Pontiac area.

The school is known for its commitment to a data-driven instructional approach, where teachers regularly assess student progress to tailor lessons to individual needs. In addition to core academics, Great Lakes Academy integrates enrichment activities and moral focus lessons into the daily schedule to help cultivate well-rounded students. As part of a larger network of charter schools, the institution prioritizes strong parent-teacher partnerships and consistent school culture to ensure that students remain engaged and motivated throughout their middle school years.

162

Total Students

13.0

Full-Time Teachers

12.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

87.7%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Great Lakes Academy
Demographic	Student Count
White	3
Hispanic	20
Black	132
Asian	3
Two or More	3
American Indian	1

Black
132 (81.5%)
Hispanic
20 (12.3%)
White
3 (1.9%)
Asian
3 (1.9%)
Two or More
3 (1.9%)
American Indian
1 (0.6%)

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:	Great Lakes Academy
Phone:	(248)334-6434
Website:	http://www.greatlakesacademy.org
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	162
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	13.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	139
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	3

* 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 25

Grade 1 22

Grade 2 24

Grade 3 19

Grade 4 19

Grade 5 20

Grade 6 17

Grade 7 10

Grade 8 6