Ridge Park Charter Academy

Ridge Park Charter Academy is the sole school in the data set, serving grades K-8 with a total enrollment of 493 students in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As a public charter school, it is part of the Ridge Park Charter Academy District, which is ranked 243 out of 610 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating.

The school stands out for its diverse student population, with 65.11% African American, 14.2% Hispanic, 11.36% White, 1.22% Asian, and 8.11% two or more races. Academically, the school's performance is mixed, with some grade levels performing above the state average in certain subjects, while others perform below. For example, 7th-grade students scored 60.8% proficient or better in ELA, significantly higher than the state average of 37.9%, but 5th-grade students scored only 29.1% proficient or better in Science, compared to the state average of 40.4%. The school also faces a concerning chronic absenteeism rate of 29.9%, which may be impacting academic outcomes.

Despite the school's diverse student population and relatively high spending per student of $14,634, the data suggests that Ridge Park Charter Academy needs to focus on improving academic performance, particularly in areas where students are underperforming, and addressing the high chronic absenteeism rate. The school's socioeconomic challenges, with 89.05% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, should also be considered in any improvement efforts.