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Grand Traverse Academy

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades PK, KG-12
383rd
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,488 Michigan Alternative Schools
Better than 74% of Michigan alternative schools
Summary

Grand Traverse Academy is a public charter school in Traverse City, Michigan, serving 798 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade. This alternative school within the Grand Traverse Academy district has seen fluctuations in its four-year graduation rate and dropout rate in recent years, as well as concerns over chronic absenteeism.

Academically, Grand Traverse Academy outperforms the state average in proficiency rates across various grade levels and subjects, including English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. The school's 11th-grade SAT and 8th-grade PSAT performance are particularly strong, with significantly higher proficiency rates than the state averages. While the school has a relatively high percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients, indicating a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students, its student-teacher ratio is relatively low, which may contribute to its academic success.

Compared to nearby schools like Suttons Bay Virtual School and Buckley Community Schools, Grand Traverse Academy generally outperforms them in academic proficiency rates, particularly in the SAT and PSAT assessments. However, the school may need to address the fluctuations in graduation and dropout rates, as well as the persistent issue of chronic absenteeism, to ensure continued success and support for all its students.

824
Students ?
15.2
Student/teacher ratio ?
$8,933
Per pupil spending ?
27.8%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 1245 Hammond Rd E
       Traverse City, MI  49686-9000

(231) 932-6008

District: Grand Traverse Academy

Racial breakdown:

White:
87.4%
Hispanic:
3.5%
Two or more races:
3.2%
more
 See top rated Michigan elementary schools

 Compare Grand Traverse Academy to nearby alternative schools!
At a glance
▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 89th percentile in 2022 → 82nd in 2025
Strengths
✓Test scores above the Michigan average (53% vs 40% meeting standards)
✓97% graduate in 4 years — above the Michigan average (83%)
✓Above the Michigan median (74th percentile)
Worth a look
!Ranking has slipped — down 7 percentile points since 2022
Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?
This school53%
District avg53%
Michigan avg40%
Elementary school
383rd of 1,488
Michigan public elementary schools ?
Top 26%▲ up 16 pts since 2015
From top 42% (2015) to top 26% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
111th of 890
Michigan public middle schools ?
Top 12%▲ up 9 pts since 2015
From top 21% (2015) to top 12% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of Michigan Middle Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
High school
136th of 739
Michigan public high schools ?
Top 18%▼ down 12 pts since 2015
From top 7% (2015) to top 18% (2025)
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
202572.1383 of 148874.3%★★★★☆
202465.6476 of 148668.0%★★★☆☆
202370.3386 of 147073.7%★★★★☆
202264.8410 of 134469.5%★★★☆☆
202161.9370 of 115367.9%★★★☆☆
201961.2497 of 140864.7%★★★☆☆
201869.8442 of 144869.5%★★★☆☆
201764.1433 of 146670.5%★★★★☆
201661.5580 of 154862.5%★★★☆☆
201557.8662 of 158058.1%★★★☆☆
201457.7684 of 153355.4%★★★☆☆
201358.8666 of 156357.4%★★★☆☆
201262.7566 of 156663.9%★★★☆☆
201166.9562 of 155263.8%★★★☆☆
201070.3513 of 155266.9%★★★☆☆
200966.0635 of 158960.0%★★★☆☆
200858.7803 of 157749.1%★★☆☆☆
200744.61104 of 156529.5%★☆☆☆☆
200640.91167 of 154524.5%★☆☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202562.2441 of 133867.0%★★★☆☆
202464.0395 of 134270.6%★★★★☆
202369.1317 of 132176.0%★★★★☆
202262.4347 of 110668.6%★★★☆☆
202164.0268 of 90270.3%★★★★☆
201970.6288 of 117175.4%★★★★☆
201868.3441 of 144369.4%★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202568.3329 of 134675.6%★★★★☆
202458.1496 of 138164.1%★★★☆☆
202380.3158 of 135088.3%★★★★☆
202279.0122 of 109988.9%★★★★☆
202171.7138 of 74981.6%★★★★☆
201960.9369 of 113467.5%★★★☆☆
201874.8241 of 139782.7%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202572.4340 of 136675.1%★★★★☆
202457.7536 of 134760.2%★★★☆☆
202363.1453 of 133466.0%★★★☆☆
202262.7378 of 113966.8%★★★☆☆
202157.0350 of 91561.7%★★★☆☆
201959.0444 of 119662.9%★★★☆☆
201867.7444 of 144669.3%★★★☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202560.7444 of 120663.2%★★★☆☆
202455.3514 of 120457.3%★★★☆☆
202358.3462 of 119861.4%★★★☆☆
202254.9475 of 110256.9%★★★☆☆
202160.4347 of 100565.5%★★★☆☆
201950.9543 of 112851.9%★★★☆☆
201858.2514 of 125359.0%★★★☆☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202583.2111 of 89087.5%★★★★☆
202475.6166 of 89781.5%★★★★☆
202388.386 of 88390.3%★★★★★
202281.7103 of 77686.7%★★★★☆
202171.8138 of 67579.6%★★★★☆
201984.895 of 79288.0%★★★★☆
201878.2163 of 83880.5%★★★★☆
201777.6135 of 82183.6%★★★★☆
201672.3201 of 89477.5%★★★★☆
201573.3196 of 91978.7%★★★★☆
201470.8228 of 92175.2%★★★★☆
201372.2213 of 91976.8%★★★★☆
201277.3169 of 90081.2%★★★★☆
201176.6160 of 85881.4%★★★★☆
201075.1188 of 85177.9%★★★★☆
200961.5419 of 84750.5%★★★☆☆
200863.3381 of 83954.6%★★★☆☆
200758.9437 of 82346.9%★★☆☆☆
200668.4286 of 80664.5%★★★☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202578.1117 of 78985.2%★★★★☆
202472.4147 of 77180.9%★★★★☆
202378.9107 of 77086.1%★★★★☆
202274.2117 of 65782.2%★★★★☆
202165.2129 of 52175.2%★★★★☆
201985.173 of 65888.9%★★★★☆
201875.8159 of 79480.0%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202594.020 of 83297.6%★★★★★
202473.8124 of 83685.2%★★★★☆
202390.132 of 82596.1%★★★★★
202288.438 of 69194.5%★★★★★
202191.419 of 52396.4%★★★★★
201993.015 of 67297.8%★★★★★
201892.629 of 81596.4%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202582.4106 of 79886.7%★★★★☆
202472.5161 of 78679.5%★★★★☆
202389.473 of 77690.6%★★★★★
202282.094 of 65885.7%★★★★☆
202172.8106 of 54080.4%★★★★☆
201978.3103 of 63983.9%★★★★☆
201876.6145 of 79781.8%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202574.6141 of 69679.7%★★★★☆
202463.4202 of 70171.2%★★★★☆
202382.294 of 68886.3%★★★★☆
202274.4127 of 63880.1%★★★★☆
202166.4147 of 57774.5%★★★★☆
201976.4115 of 62481.6%★★★★☆
201869.1172 of 67874.6%★★★★☆
High school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202577.4136 of 73981.6%★★★★☆
202487.872 of 74390.3%★★★★★
202386.179 of 73589.3%★★★★☆
202289.759 of 53188.9%★★★★☆
202192.535 of 56193.8%★★★★★
201986.875 of 66688.7%★★★★☆
201888.473 of 82491.1%★★★★★
201790.951 of 83593.9%★★★★★
201683.1108 of 85287.3%★★★★☆
201590.357 of 83293.1%★★★★★
201482.8106 of 79986.7%★★★★☆
201373.6198 of 80575.4%★★★★☆
201291.846 of 77394.0%★★★★★
201187.255 of 78493.0%★★★★★
201078.2149 of 76580.5%★★★★☆
200978.3155 of 75479.4%★★★★☆
200860.2378 of 75049.6%★★☆☆☆
200775.4175 of 76777.2%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202568.8164 of 62973.9%★★★★☆
202486.958 of 61990.6%★★★★★
202369.6150 of 61175.5%★★★★☆
201884.580 of 71088.7%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202580.487 of 63586.3%★★★★☆
202484.064 of 65490.2%★★★★★
202399.64 of 61499.3%★★★★★
201886.459 of 75592.2%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202566.6176 of 62872.0%★★★★☆
202483.279 of 63387.5%★★★★☆
202285.364 of 44085.5%★★★★☆
202190.237 of 47292.2%★★★★★
201977.5106 of 54380.5%★★★★☆
201887.568 of 70790.4%★★★★★

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankMichigan percentileRating
202573.8136 of 63978.7%★★★★☆
202482.384 of 63886.8%★★★★☆
202383.187 of 64786.6%★★★★☆
202287.065 of 49286.8%★★★★☆
202190.144 of 51691.5%★★★★★
201984.279 of 58286.4%★★★★☆
201885.080 of 70888.7%★★★★☆
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 (2025)76th percentile~ school
Male (2025)75th percentile~ school
Female (2025)67th percentile-7 vs school
White (2025)63rd percentile-11 vs school
Middle school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)98th percentile+10 vs school
Male (2025)87th percentile~ school
Female (2025)85th percentile~ school
White (2025)80th percentile-8 vs school
High school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)86th percentile+5 vs school
White (2025)79th percentile-3 vs school
Female (2025)74th percentile-8 vs school
Male (2025)72nd percentile-10 vs school
By subject vs Michigan (2024-2025) ?
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing78%+22 vs state
English Language Arts53%+13 vs state
Math50%+14 vs state
Science50%+11 vs state
Mathematics49%+19 vs state
Social Studies47%+8 vs state

2.4
9 ratings · 8 written reviews
5★3
4★0
3★0
2★1
1★5
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What people are saying
by a parent
Monday, December 11, 2017

Open Quote We used to love this school, but poor management has taken this school down hill. They punish kids for being kids! The teachers do not communicate with the parents, and the interim superintendent doesn't stand up for the kids or parents. Save your self the trouble and find another school. Close Quote


by a teacher
Friday, October 18, 2013

Open Quote The administration is very negative with the teaching staff as well as controlling. In comparison to other schools I taught at, I was blown away at how little the administration supported their staff. When it came to discipline and bullying there was little support as well for students. Overall, it was not a very good experience. Close Quote


by a teacher
Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Open Quote Unfortunately, GTA offers very little technology to students. The majority of rooms have no Smartboards, Elmos, or other digital technology for students to utilize. Four computers per classroom do not allow for much widespread use either. Although there is a computer lab, with so many classes it is difficult to ever find an open slot. In preparing students for today's world this is a necessity. There are many great lessons that cannot be taught as well due to this fact. Other local schools offer laptaps and Ipads starting in the elementary level. GTA really needs to invest in these items and make it a top priority. Otherwise, students will not be prepared. Close Quote


by a parent
Friday, January 11, 2013

Open Quote Awesome school! G.T.A. and Montessori were the only schools to pass no child left behind standards in the area and Montessori costs close to 10000 per year G.T.A. is free. My kids love it. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, September 13, 2012

Open Quote GTA asks teachers to treat parents as customers and provide good customer service. This sounds more like a fast food establishment then a working team consisting of student, parent, and teacher. I find this highly disturbing as a parent. I respect the teachers and feel this does not necessarily warrant support for them. This may explain the high teacher turn-over at the school. It worries me to see so many teachers leaving every year in a tough economy. Close Quote


by a student
Monday, June 11, 2012

Open Quote As a former student of GTA, I can say that while it seems annoying and overly strict to a student, I have realized that the education the school gave to me was invaluable. I have seen a lot of parent reviews, and I feel that the only way they know about what happens at the school is through the mouths of the children, which is often biased. As much as people complain about it, the small class size, experience and know-how of the teachers, and overall quality of the school was the major factor in my acceptance to a military intelligence job in the Army. Thank you, GTA. Close Quote


by a parent
Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Open Quote High Teacher turn over rate made me worried that they were not getting the best Teachers or either not paying for well educated teachers.
Had some issues on Meap scores being low for the school, over all just not happy with the staff or board members. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, May 27, 2010

Open Quote Awesome tuition free charter school
For children that don't fit the typical mold, and for bringing out the best in their students. Close Quote




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Frequently Asked Questions about Grand Traverse Academy

Grand Traverse Academy ranks 383rd of 1488 Michigan alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students at Grand Traverse Academy are 87% White, 4% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 3% African American, 1% Asian.

In the 2024-25 school year, 824 students attended Grand Traverse Academy.


Rate Grand Traverse Academy!



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Schools in Traverse City, MI

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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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