Lighthouse Connections Academy

Lighthouse Connections Academy is an alternative public charter virtual school located in Troy, Michigan, serving grades K-12 with a total enrollment of 2,187 students. The school is part of the Lighthouse Connections Academy district.

Lighthouse Connections Academy appears to be struggling academically compared to the state and nearby alternative schools. The school has had a 4-year graduation rate ranging from 57.4% to 82.8%, which is lower than the state average of around 80%. Additionally, the school has had dropout rates ranging from 7.6% to 25.3%, which are significantly higher than the state average. Lighthouse Connections Academy's test scores are consistently lower than the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts ranging from 18.2% to 22.8%, compared to the state average of 38.6% to 44.4%, and in Math, the school's proficiency rates ranging from 7% to 14.1%, compared to the state average of 31.5% to 42.7%.

Interestingly, Lighthouse Connections Academy's performance is generally lower than the nearby alternative schools, such as Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac, Webb Elementary School, and Michigan Mathematics and Science Academy Dequindre, which have higher graduation rates, lower dropout rates, and better test scores. The school also has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 71.13% to 75.86% over the past few years, suggesting it serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged population. Despite the increased spending per student, from $7,841 in 2020-2021 to $10,085 in 2023-2024, the school's academic outcomes have not improved, and its high student-teacher ratio, ranging from 27.1 to 46.4, may be a contributing factor to the school's challenges.