- Enrollment
- 213
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Grand Rapids, MI
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes
Federal NCES profile for Lighthouse Academy Waalkes, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 260094908355Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #2 of 14
- schools in Grand Rapids · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.6:1
- small classes for Michigan
- 96.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes has class sizes smaller than 72% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lighthouse Academy Waalkes ranks #2 of 14 schools in Grand Rapids, MI.
School address
District: Lighthouse Academy · Michigan
NCES ID 260094908355 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+0 students YoY
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes held near 80 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 6.0 → 6.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+0 students YoY 260094908355 · Grand Rapids, MI Other · SMALL · CHARTER
73 enr · 14.6:1 · 96.3% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Lighthouse Academy South Campus (213 students)
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes held near 80 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+0 headcount). Teacher FTE added 6.0 → 6.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lighthouse Aca
Lighthouse Academy South Campus
213 students
- This school 73
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes
73 students
- Lighthouse Aca 32
Lighthouse Academy Eagle Village
32 students
- Lighthouse Aca 17
Lighthouse Academy Ottawa Juvenile Detention Center
17 students
- Muskegon Count 14
Muskegon County Juvenile Transition Center
14 students
- Lighthouse Aca 14
Lighthouse Academy Juvenile Justice Institute
14 students
What this shows Lighthouse Academy Waalkes reports 73 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lighthouse Academy Waalkes compares
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.6:1 | ▼ 17% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 96.3% | ▲ 77% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 73 | top 89% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.6:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
73
Bigger than 8% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
96.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 77% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.6:1
students per teacher
- 17% below state mean
Top 28% in Michigan - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Funding equity
$21,047
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $15,012
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 56.2%
White 23.3%
Hispanic or Latino 13.7%
Two or More 6.8%
Largest group: African American at 56.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.6, Lighthouse Academy Waalkes is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Lighthouse Academy reports $21,047 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Lighthouse Academy Waalkes Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lighthouse Academy South Campus | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lighthouse Academy Eagle Village | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lighthouse Academy Ottawa Juvenile Detention Center | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Muskegon County Juvenile Transition Center | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lighthouse Academy Juvenile Justice Institute | Smaller | No free-lunch data | No ratio data |
Comparisons are relative to Lighthouse Academy Waalkes's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 32
- Students per teacher
- 10.7:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
- Enrollment
- 17
- Students per teacher
- 5.7:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 14
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 14
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar other schools in Grand Rapids
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
City Middlehigh
Standard public school
955 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Harrison Park Academy
Standard public school
708 students 20.8:1 students per teacher
Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy
Standard public school
494 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center
Standard public school
287 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Hope Academy of West Michigan
Standard public school
284 students 10.1:1 students per teacher
Mulick Park Elementary School
Standard public school
264 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~73 students)
Frequently asked questions about Lighthouse Academy Waalkes
How many students attend Lighthouse Academy Waalkes?
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes has 73 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Grand Rapids, MI. CCD year-over-year: 80 (2022-23) → 80 (2023-24), nearly flat (+0).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lighthouse Academy Waalkes?
The student-teacher ratio at Lighthouse Academy Waalkes is 14.6:1, which is 17% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 7% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Lighthouse Academy Waalkes?
96.3% of students at Lighthouse Academy Waalkes are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lighthouse Academy Waalkes?
The largest demographic group at Lighthouse Academy Waalkes is African American at 56.2% of enrollment, in Grand Rapids, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lighthouse Academy Waalkes?
Lighthouse Academy Waalkes has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does Lighthouse Academy Waalkes rank among schools in Grand Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Lighthouse Academy Waalkes ranks #2 of 14 schools in Grand Rapids, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Grand Rapids on the city page.
What other schools are in Lighthouse Academy?
Besides Lighthouse Academy Waalkes, Lighthouse Academy also operates Lighthouse Academy South Campus (213 students), Lighthouse Academy Eagle Village (32 students), and Lighthouse Academy Ottawa Juvenile Detention Center (17 students). See the Lighthouse Academy district page for the complete list.