Grand Traverse Academy

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Traverse City, Michigan - 1 schools

An equity score of 38/100 ranks Grand Traverse Academy #537 of 707 districts in Michigan (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $8,583 per pupil, Grand Traverse Academy ranks #809 of 821 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending (Michigan districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

787
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$8,583
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Grand Traverse Academy operates 1 public schools serving 787 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Michigan. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Grand Traverse County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $8,583 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 83 of 821 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending. See how Michigan compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 5.6% local, 89.8% state, and 4.5% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 38/100, ranked #537 of 707 in Michigan against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 1 schools offering Advanced Placement (2 AP courses district-wide), a 824:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 23.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 87.4% White, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 2.8% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Grand Traverse Academy, enrolling 824 students (100% of the district's total enrollment).

Grand Traverse Academy accounts for 100.0% of all Grand Traverse Academy student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Grand Traverse Academy a distant remainder — means Grand Traverse Academy-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Grand Traverse Academy student-counselor ratio is 824:1 — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Grand Traverse Academy chronic absenteeism rate is 23.1% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Grand Traverse Academy is typically wider than the Grand Traverse Academy-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

4.5%
Federal
89.8%
State
5.6%
Local

Funding Equity

38
Equity Score
537 / 707
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 1 schools in Grand Traverse Academy.

White 87.4%
Hispanic or Latino 3.5%
African American 2.8%
Asian 1.3%
Multiracial 3.2%
Other 1.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 1
Schools with AP
2 AP courses total
824:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
23.1%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Grand Traverse Academy

School Enrollment
Grand Traverse Academy
Charter
824

How Grand Traverse Academy Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Michigan districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Decatur Public Schools Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Excel Charter Academy Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Linden Charter Academy Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Sand Creek Community Schools Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Grand Traverse Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Michigan

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Utica Community Schools
25,744 students · 38 schools · $12,513/pupil
Compare vs Grand Traverse Academy →
Dearborn City School District
20,128 students · 37 schools · $16,677/pupil
Compare vs Grand Traverse Academy →
Ann Arbor Public Schools
17,026 students · 32 schools · $17,642/pupil
Compare vs Grand Traverse Academy →
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
16,294 students · 25 schools · $13,630/pupil
Compare vs Grand Traverse Academy →

Compare Grand Traverse Academy

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Detroit Public Schools Community District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Grand Traverse Academy?

Grand Traverse Academy has 1 school, including 1 combined. Total enrollment is 787 students.

How much does Grand Traverse Academy spend per student?

Grand Traverse Academy spends $8,583 per student. The district has an equity score of 38/100, ranking #537 in Michigan.

What is the demographic composition of Grand Traverse Academy?

Grand Traverse Academy students are 87.4% White, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 2.8% African American, 1.3% Asian, averaged across 1 school. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Grand Traverse Academy?

Grand Traverse Academy has an equity score of 38/100, ranking #537 out of 707 districts in Michigan.