Great Lakes Learning Academy

The Great Lakes Learning Academy district in East Lansing, Michigan, comprises two online high schools serving a combined 923 students in grades 6 through 12, with both schools facing significant academic and socioeconomic challenges compared to state averages.

For parents comparing the two schools, the Great Lakes Learning Academy Middle/High School is clearly the stronger option. It serves 760 students in grades 6-12 and shows a positive trajectory, improving its state percentile ranking from 12th to 22nd over two years. Its graduation rate of 68.6% is more than double that of the Great Lakes Learning Academy Alternative High School, which graduates only 27.1% of its 163 students. The Alternative High School also has a staggering 38.3% dropout rate and 55% chronic absenteeism rate—nearly double the state average. While the Alternative school spends over $22,000 per student (more than double the Middle/High School's $10,057), this investment does not translate into better outcomes, likely reflecting the greater challenges its students face, with 82% qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

Both schools struggle with math proficiency, which is critically low. At the Middle/High School, only about 5% of 8th and 10th graders are proficient in math on the PSAT, a 26-point gap from the state average. Reading and science scores also lag significantly, with 11th-grade SAT reading proficiency at 29% (Middle/High) and 18% (Alternative) versus the 55% state average. Chronic absenteeism affects one-third of Middle/High students and over half of Alternative students, making engagement a primary barrier. However, the Middle/High School shows year-over-year gains in several subjects, suggesting recent reforms may be helping. For parents, the Middle/High School offers a more stable path to graduation, while the Alternative High School serves a higher-need population requiring intensive support.