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West MI Academy of Environmental Science

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades PK, KG-12
690th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,492 Michigan Alternative Schools
Better than 54% of Michigan alternative schools
Summary

West MI Academy of Environmental Science is a public charter school in Grand Rapids, MI, serving 666 students from Pre-K through 12th grade as its own district, with a moderate-income population where about 47% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

This school has a clear academic identity: it excels in science and social studies, particularly at the high school level. In the 2024-2025 school year, 59.4% of 11th graders were proficient in science—a remarkable 24.5 percentage points above the state average—and 62.5% were proficient in social studies, compared to 42.1% statewide. This strength extends to lower grades, with 5th and 8th graders also outperforming state averages in science by significant margins. The environmental science focus appears deeply integrated and effective. However, the picture is more mixed in other subjects. While the school beats state averages in some elementary ELA grades, math proficiency lags notably by middle school—for example, only 21.2% of 6th graders were proficient versus 31.5% statewide. Compared to nearby alternatives like Lighthouse Academy South Campus and PrepNet Virtual Academy, this school is a stronger performer overall, though Excel Charter Academy outpaces it in ELA and math at the elementary level.

The most pressing concern is student retention. Chronic absenteeism affects 33.5% of students—higher than the state's 27.9%—and graduation rates have been volatile, swinging from 85.3% in 2022-2023 down to 70.5% in 2024-2025, well below the state average of 84.0%. The dropout rate spiked to 11.7% that same year. This suggests that while the students who remain through 11th grade achieve impressive science scores, a significant portion may be disengaging before reaching that point. For parents prioritizing a strong environmental science program and willing to monitor attendance and graduation progress closely, this school offers unique strengths, but it's worth asking the school directly about its strategies for keeping older students on track.

666
Students ?
13.0
Student/teacher ratio ?
$13,389
Per pupil spending ?
46.5%
Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?
All students in Michigan receive free school meals.
 4463 Leonard St NW
       Grand Rapids, MI  49534-2138

(616) 791-7454

District: West MI Academy of Environmental Science

Racial breakdown:

White:
59.2%
Hispanic:
27.2%
African American:
9.5%
more
 See top rated Michigan elementary schools

 Compare West MI Academy of Environmental Science to nearby alternative schools!
At a glance
▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 85th percentile in 2023 → 69th in 2026
Strengths
✓Above the Michigan median (54th percentile)
Worth a look
!Graduation rate below the Michigan average (70% vs 84%)
!Dropout rate above the Michigan average (12% vs 7%)
!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2023
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school41%
District avg41%
Michigan avg41%
Elementary school
690th of 1,492
Michigan public elementary schools ?
Top 46%▼ down 19 pts since 2016
From top 28% (2016) to top 46% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
421st of 896
Michigan public middle schools ?
Top 47%▼ down 19 pts since 2016
From top 28% (2016) to top 47% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of Michigan Middle Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
High school
249th of 800
Michigan public high schools ?
Top 31%▲ up 1 pts since 2016
See the entire ranking list of Michigan High Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)
Elementary school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202650.5690 of 149253.8%★★★☆☆
202565.5486 of 148867.3%★★★☆☆
202449.0715 of 148651.9%★★★☆☆
202361.8525 of 147064.3%★★★☆☆
202255.9546 of 134459.4%★★★☆☆
202147.8546 of 115352.6%★★★☆☆
201949.3679 of 140851.8%★★★☆☆
201857.1663 of 144854.2%★★★☆☆
201764.2429 of 146670.7%★★★★☆
201668.7429 of 154872.3%★★★★☆
201559.2640 of 158059.5%★★★☆☆
201470.3414 of 153373.0%★★★★☆
201370.2435 of 156372.2%★★★★☆
201255.4724 of 156653.8%★★★☆☆
201153.7927 of 155240.3%★★☆☆☆
201056.0937 of 155239.6%★★☆☆☆
200942.21191 of 158925.0%★☆☆☆☆
200834.41277 of 157719.0%★☆☆☆☆
200725.91361 of 156513.0%★☆☆☆☆
200627.21338 of 154513.4%★☆☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202647.3640 of 134352.3%★★★☆☆
202558.7498 of 133862.8%★★★☆☆
202444.4700 of 134247.8%★★☆☆☆
202354.4533 of 132159.7%★★★☆☆
202253.2482 of 110656.4%★★★☆☆
202147.1446 of 90250.6%★★★☆☆
201938.2737 of 117137.1%★★☆☆☆
201854.6668 of 144353.7%★★★☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202633.1147 of 22534.7%★★☆☆☆
202550.091 of 20956.5%★★★☆☆
202451.476 of 20162.2%★★★☆☆
202348.285 of 18854.8%★★★☆☆
201850.095 of 22257.2%★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202667.2342 of 135274.7%★★★★☆
202555.5537 of 134660.1%★★★☆☆
202446.2695 of 138149.7%★★☆☆☆
202366.3339 of 135074.9%★★★★☆
202267.4270 of 109975.4%★★★★☆
202152.3319 of 74957.4%★★★☆☆
201958.2416 of 113463.3%★★★☆☆
201864.0431 of 139769.1%★★★☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202644.0739 of 137246.1%★★☆☆☆
202563.1469 of 136665.7%★★★☆☆
202445.8693 of 134748.6%★★☆☆☆
202359.1508 of 133461.9%★★★☆☆
202250.3546 of 113952.1%★★★☆☆
202145.3475 of 91548.1%★★☆☆☆
201950.2579 of 119651.6%★★★☆☆
201855.8646 of 144655.3%★★★☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202637.2162 of 24634.1%★★☆☆☆
202564.068 of 25273.0%★★★★☆
202333.4142 of 19527.2%★☆☆☆☆
201865.395 of 40376.4%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202651.5564 of 119953.0%★★★☆☆
202570.6317 of 120673.7%★★★★☆
202444.3662 of 120445.0%★★☆☆☆
202361.7422 of 119864.8%★★★☆☆
202254.3489 of 110255.6%★★★☆☆
202149.3478 of 100552.4%★★★☆☆
201943.5654 of 112842.0%★★☆☆☆
201846.1696 of 125344.5%★★☆☆☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202649.6421 of 89653.0%★★★☆☆
202554.4358 of 89059.8%★★★☆☆
202468.5216 of 89775.9%★★★★☆
202370.0210 of 88376.2%★★★★☆
202246.9380 of 77651.0%★★★☆☆
202158.7223 of 67567.0%★★★☆☆
201955.4314 of 79260.4%★★★☆☆
201857.4372 of 83855.6%★★★☆☆
201760.7268 of 82167.4%★★★☆☆
201666.6253 of 89471.7%★★★★☆
201562.0319 of 91965.3%★★★☆☆
201463.8311 of 92166.2%★★★☆☆
201352.4449 of 91951.1%★★★☆☆
201252.1440 of 90051.1%★★★☆☆
201153.3526 of 85838.7%★★☆☆☆
201060.6455 of 85146.5%★★☆☆☆
200940.5634 of 84725.1%★☆☆☆☆
200828.6699 of 83916.7%★☆☆☆☆
200715.4741 of 82310.0%★☆☆☆☆
200622.8697 of 80613.5%★☆☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202637.8484 of 78938.7%★★☆☆☆
202545.1406 of 78948.5%★★☆☆☆
202457.7254 of 77167.1%★★★☆☆
202361.8226 of 77070.6%★★★★☆
202233.7442 of 65732.7%★★☆☆☆
202149.8210 of 52159.7%★★★☆☆
201951.6297 of 65854.9%★★★☆☆
201840.8477 of 79439.9%★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202654.8109 of 26058.1%★★★☆☆
202555.2100 of 26562.3%★★★☆☆
202460.980 of 25768.9%★★★☆☆
202254.655 of 13860.1%★★★☆☆
201841.0156 of 26641.4%★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202663.3232 of 83472.2%★★★★☆
202550.0385 of 83253.7%★★★☆☆
202470.4165 of 83680.3%★★★★☆
202364.1209 of 82574.7%★★★★☆
202264.4171 of 69175.3%★★★★☆
202169.0104 of 52380.1%★★★★☆
201965.2172 of 67274.4%★★★★☆
201852.6372 of 81554.4%★★★☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202653.8316 of 81361.1%★★★☆☆
202556.2299 of 79862.5%★★★☆☆
202471.0169 of 78678.5%★★★★☆
202367.4187 of 77675.9%★★★★☆
202264.6174 of 65873.6%★★★★☆
202159.5171 of 54068.3%★★★☆☆
201950.3280 of 63956.2%★★★☆☆
201870.9194 of 79775.7%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202651.3295 of 68757.1%★★★☆☆
202547.2343 of 69650.7%★★★☆☆
202465.0196 of 70172.0%★★★★☆
202364.3198 of 68871.2%★★★★☆
202242.0345 of 63845.9%★★☆☆☆
202156.6207 of 57764.1%★★★☆☆
201952.8267 of 62457.2%★★★☆☆
201856.1263 of 67861.2%★★★☆☆
High school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202661.6249 of 80068.9%★★★☆☆
202585.870 of 73990.5%★★★★★
202498.210 of 74398.7%★★★★★
202381.8108 of 73585.3%★★★★☆
202269.6163 of 53169.3%★★★☆☆
202189.648 of 56191.4%★★★★★
201984.585 of 66687.2%★★★★☆
201879.0150 of 82481.8%★★★★☆
201776.7154 of 83581.6%★★★★☆
201665.5272 of 85268.1%★★★☆☆
201589.665 of 83292.2%★★★★★
201457.1366 of 79954.2%★★★☆☆
201383.4108 of 80586.6%★★★★☆
201246.0464 of 77340.0%★★☆☆☆
201135.8556 of 78429.1%★☆☆☆☆
201040.1525 of 76531.4%★★☆☆☆
200952.0447 of 75440.7%★★☆☆☆
200861.4366 of 75051.2%★★★☆☆
200732.9556 of 76727.5%★☆☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202654.0276 of 68659.8%★★★☆☆
202563.2210 of 62966.6%★★★☆☆
202383.969 of 61188.7%★★★★☆
202255.2196 of 41652.9%★★★☆☆
201956.0240 of 55456.7%★★★☆☆
201849.8345 of 71051.4%★★★☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202633.0181 of 25930.1%★★☆☆☆
202588.720 of 20390.1%★★★★★
201865.159 of 20170.6%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202633.7489 of 71932.0%★★☆☆☆
202397.512 of 61498.0%★★★★★
202267.1118 of 36968.0%★★★☆☆
201894.122 of 75597.1%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202653.3277 of 69360.0%★★★☆☆
202595.419 of 62897.0%★★★★★
202495.821 of 63396.7%★★★★★
202377.9112 of 61181.7%★★★★☆
202272.5117 of 44073.4%★★★★☆
201994.523 of 54395.8%★★★★★
201889.756 of 70792.1%★★★★★

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202660.1225 of 67166.5%★★★☆☆
202583.977 of 63987.9%★★★★☆
202495.028 of 63895.6%★★★★★
202387.660 of 64790.7%★★★★★
202289.156 of 49288.6%★★★★☆
201969.4151 of 58274.1%★★★★☆
201884.189 of 70887.4%★★★★☆
How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)
Elementary school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)75th percentile+21 vs school
White (2026)53rd percentile~ school
Female (2026)52nd percentile~ school
Male (2026)46th percentile-8 vs school
Hispanic (2026)35th percentile-19 vs school
Special Education (2026)34th percentile-20 vs school
Middle school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)72nd percentile+19 vs school
Male (2026)61st percentile+8 vs school
Hispanic (2026)58th percentile+5 vs school
White (2026)57th percentile+4 vs school
Female (2026)39th percentile-14 vs school
High school
White (2026)66th percentile~ school
Male (2026)60th percentile-9 vs school
Female (2026)60th percentile-9 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)32nd percentile-37 vs school
Hispanic (2026)30th percentile-39 vs school
By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing52%~ state avg
Science48%+10 vs state
Social Studies45%+4 vs state
English Language Arts38%~ state avg
Mathematics36%+3 vs state
Math31%-5 vs state

5.0
1 rating · 1 written review
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What people are saying
by a parent
Friday, June 10, 2022

Open Quote I love how the administration and teachers care about the kids! They give them an outdoor learning environment and so much hands on learning! They also have been amazing with my sons IEP! So thankful we found this school that is right for our family Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about West MI Academy of Environmental Science

In the 2024-25 school year, 666 students attended West MI Academy of Environmental Science.

West MI Academy of Environmental Science ranks 690th of 1492 Michigan alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at West MI Academy of Environmental Science are 59% White, 27% Hispanic, 9% African American, 2% Two or more races, 1% American Indian.

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Latest Michigan data All new data »
2025–26 M-Step, PSAT & SAT test scoresSep 4, 2026
2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026
2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026
2024–25 attendance dataJan 6, 2026


SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.

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