Is West Michigan Aviation Academy a good school?

Yes! West Michigan Aviation Academy is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 17 th of 743 Michigan high schools.

How many students attend West Michigan Aviation Academy?

In the 2022-23 school year, 605 students attended West Michigan Aviation Academy.

What is the racial makeup of West Michigan Aviation Academy?

Students at West Michigan Aviation Academy are 73% White, 10% Hispanic, 8% African American, 5% Asian, 4% Two or more races.

West Michigan Aviation Academy

Summary:

West Michigan Aviation Academy is a public charter high school located in Grand Rapids, Michigan that serves grades 9-12 with an enrollment of 605 students. This high-performing school has consistently been ranked among the top high schools in the state, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for most years.

West Michigan Aviation Academy significantly outperforms the state average on standardized tests, with 63% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in M-Step/Science compared to the state average of 37.5%, and 85.1% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in SAT/Evidence-Based Reading and Writing compared to the state average of 51.3%. The school also maintains an exceptional 98.5% graduation rate, far exceeding the state average. Notably, the school has a diverse student population, with 72.89% White, 8.43% African American, 9.75% Hispanic, and 5.29% Asian students, and it excels in supporting the academic achievement of various student subgroups, ranking 1st out of 188 Michigan high schools for African American students and 19th out of 195 Michigan high schools for Hispanic students.

When compared to nearby schools, such as Kelloggsville High School, which has significantly lower academic performance with only 22.3% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in M-Step/Science, West Michigan Aviation Academy stands out as a model of excellence in public education. The school's focus on aviation-related curriculum and hands-on learning opportunities, along with its strong leadership, dedicated teachers, and supportive community, may be contributing factors to its exceptional performance.

Detail:

Public, Charter 9-12

5363 44th St SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512

(616) 446-8886

District: West Michigan Aviation Academy

SchoolDigger Rank:
17^th of 743 Michigan High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,454

Student/teacher ratio: 16.1

Number of students: 605

Racial breakdown:

White:

72.9%

Hispanic:

9.8%

African American:

8.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 21.3%

See top rated Michigan high schools

Compare West Michigan Aviation Academy to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details West Michigan Aviation Academy ranks better than 97.7% of high schools in Michigan. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 96.5. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at West Michigan Aviation Academy who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (72.9%), Hispanic (9.8%), African American (8.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 21.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at West Michigan Aviation Academy is 16.1. (See more...)

Compare West Michigan Aviation Academy employs 37.3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at West Michigan Aviation Academy is $10,454.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

West Michigan Aviation Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks West Michigan Aviation Academy 17^th of 743 Michigan public high schools. (See West Michigan Aviation Academy in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

West Michigan Aviation Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks West Michigan Aviation Academy 6^th of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for West Michigan Aviation Academy.

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Rank History for West Michigan Aviation Academy

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Rank History for all students at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2013	83.89	105^th	805	87.0%
2014	84.06	95^th	799	88.1%
2015	91.11	49^th	832	94.1%
2016	92.21	46^th	852	94.6%
2017	85.93	87^th	835	89.6%
2018	92.73	44^th	824	94.7%
2019	94.45	31^st	666	95.3%
2021	79.83	80^th	561	85.7%
2022	98.45	8^th	531	98.5%
2023	93.13	34^th	735	95.4%
2024	96.50	17^th	743	97.7%

See the entire list of Michigan High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	84.67	16^th	315	94.9%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	87.39	50^th	755	93.4%
2019	94.19	17^th	532	96.8%
2021	56.18	169^th	417	59.5%
2022	99.63	3^rd	369	99.2%
2023	95.34	22^nd	614	96.4%
2024	96.99	16^th	654	97.6%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	79.92	118^th	710	83.4%
2019	91.69	35^th	554	93.7%
2021	76.74	76^th	462	83.5%
2022	98.38	3^rd	416	99.3%
2023	90.93	34^th	611	94.4%
2024	93.09	32^nd	619	94.8%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	94.33	26^th	707	96.3%
2019	94.37	24^th	543	95.6%
2021	72.80	89^th	472	81.1%
2022	98.39	8^th	440	98.2%
2023	92.03	37^th	611	93.9%
2024	96.32	19^th	633	97.0%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	46.17	106^th	254	58.3%
2024	99.74	1^st	188	99.5%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	84.86	25^th	201	87.6%
2019	93.15	6^th	97	93.8%
2021	78.55	13^th	64	79.7%
2023	96.20	7^th	190	96.3%
2024	86.51	19^th	195	90.3%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	94.78	24^th	708	96.6%
2019	95.56	22^nd	582	96.2%
2021	85.11	63^rd	516	87.8%
2022	98.88	2^nd	492	99.6%
2023	91.96	40^th	647	93.8%
2024	96.31	20^th	638	96.9%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Thursday, April 14, 2016

I'm the parent of two students currently enrolled at WMAA. We have been very pleased with the school. The administration and front office are professional and relational; the guidance counselors are caring. My kids (one boy and one girl) have found the teachers to be involved, friendly, and helpful. They have each had the opportunity to be involved in extra curricular activities (cross country, drama club, national honor society, etc.) and have enjoyed the school culture and curriculum. I have only good things to say! Close Quote

by a student
Monday, May 25, 2015

I'll be graduating from this school in the year of 2016 and honestly, I love this school, it's so much different than your typical high school. But then again, it's also a very relaxing environment, the staff is nice and helpful and the student body is full of kids who just want to learn and who's goals are all similar, and that's to graduate and get good grades. They all strive to do better. Close Quote

Enrollment information for West Michigan Aviation Academy

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2011	58	10	1	8	0	0	2	79
2012	103	27	2	16	0	0	3	151
2013	164	32	9	31	0	0	9	245
2014	264	56	12	65	2	0	11	410
2015	283	86	23	78	2	0	18	490
2016	332	80	28	84	1	0	17	542
2017	390	80	26	87	1	0	19	603
2018	414	74	24	70	0	1	16	599
2019	445	53	20	76	0	1	16	611
2020	448	48	27	66	0	1	16	606
2021	444	43	31	60	0	1	21	600
2022	449	44	34	56	0	1	25	609
2023	441	51	32	59	0	0	22	605

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2011	79	5.3	14.7	24.1
2012	151	9.4	16.0	38.4
2013	245	14.3	17.0	38.4
2014	410	22.5	18.2	36.8
2015	490	32.0	15.3	38.8
2016	542	31.0	17.4	36
2017	603	35.4	17.0	25.2
2018	599	39.1	15.3	26.5
2019	611	35.5	17.2	26.5
2020	606	38.1	15.8	23.8
2021	600	38.0	15.7	22.2
2022	609	34.2	17.7	22.8
2023	605	37.3	16.1	21.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio West Michigan Aviation Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2011	79	5.3	14.7	24.1
2012	151	9.4	16.0	38.4
2013	245	14.3	17.0	38.4
2014	410	22.5	18.2	36.8
2015	490	32.0	15.3	38.8
2016	542	31.0	17.4	36
2017	603	35.4	17.0	25.2
2018	599	39.1	15.3	26.5
2019	611	35.5	17.2	26.5
2020	606	38.1	15.8	23.8
2021	600	38.0	15.7	22.2
2022	609	34.2	17.7	22.8
2023	605	37.3	16.1	21.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for West Michigan Aviation Academy

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$114 (1.2%)	$9,170 (98.8%)	$9,284
2020	$289 (3.2%)	$8,735 (96.8%)	$9,025
2021	$866 (9.7%)	$8,091 (90.3%)	$8,957
2022	$494 (5.1%)	$9,154 (94.9%)	$9,649
2023	$818 (7.8%)	$9,636 (92.2%)	$10,454

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on West Michigan Aviation Academy

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 31^st of 666 High schools	Ranks 34^th of 735 High schools	0%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Social Studies (West Michigan Aviation Academy)	74	61.8	12.2%
11th Grade Social Studies (West Michigan Aviation Academy)	74	61.8	12.2%
11th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)	46.6	36.1	10.5%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (West Michigan Aviation Academy)	77.4	77.2	0.2%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (West Michigan Aviation Academy)	77.4	77.2	0.2%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Michigan)	55.3	52.2	3.1%
11th Grade Mathematics (West Michigan Aviation Academy)	62.3	59.3	3%
11th Grade Mathematics (West Michigan Aviation Academy)	62.3	59.3	3%
11th Grade Mathematics (Michigan)	36.3	29.9	6.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	611	605	1%
African American	53	51	3.8%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	20	32	60%
Hispanic	76	59	22.4%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	445	441	0.9%
Two or More Races	16	22	37.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	26.5%	21.3%	5.2%

Schools Near West Michigan Aviation Academy

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				PSAT English Language Arts (2024)	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (2024)	SAT Mathematics (2024)	M-Step Science (2024)	M-Step Social Studies (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	M-Step Science 11th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
West Michigan Aviation Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	5363 44th St SE	Grand Rapids	49512	Kent County	West Michigan Aviation Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(616) 446-8886	605	37	16.1	21.3%	441 (72.9%)	51 (8.4%)	59 (9.8%)	32 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (3.6%)	96.5	17^th of 743 public high schools	97.7%		93.1	34^th of 735 public high schools	95.4%	17		85.1	68.8	63.0	61.0	$10,454	$818	$9,636
Central High School	Public	9-12	5901 Hall St SE	Grand Rapids	49546	Kent County	Forest Hills Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 493-8700	1,053	50	21.0	13.7%	864 (82.1%)	23 (2.2%)	42 (4.0%)	76 (7.2%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (4.4%)	98.9	6^th of 743 public high schools	99.2%		93	36^th of 735 public high schools	95.1%	30		85.2	68.2	73.2	73.8	$14,704	$888	$13,815
East Kentwood High School	Public	10-12	6230 Kalamazoo Ave SE	Grand Rapids	49508	Kent County	Kentwood Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 698-6700	2,010	105	19.1	66.4%	551 (27.4%)	650 (32.3%)	365 (18.2%)	274 (13.6%)	7 (0.3%)	1 (0.0%)	162 (8.1%)	45.9	371^st of 743 public high schools	50.1%		47.2	371^st of 735 public high schools	49.5%			47.4	23.9	31.2	36.6	$16,410	$1,770	$14,640
Ottawa Hills High School	Public	9-12	2055 Rosewood Ave SE	Grand Rapids	49506	Kent County	Grand Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(616) 819-2900	369	20	19.4	88.1%	24 (6.5%)	258 (69.9%)	54 (14.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (8.7%)	8.2	681^st of 743 public high schools	8.3%		4	721^st of 735 public high schools	1.9%	40		16.1		14.5	12.9	$21,257	$4,833	$16,425
Ottawa High Transition	Public	9-12	2055 Rosewood Ave SE	Grand Rapids	49506	Kent County	Grand Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 819-2900	16	5	3.2	68.8%	2 (12.5%)	10 (62.5%)	3 (18.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (6.3%)								(n/a)						$35,274	$2,583	$32,691
Caledonia High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	9050 Kraft Ave SE	Caledonia	49316	Kent County	Caledonia Community Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(616) 891-8129	1,464	75	19.4	20.2%	1,224 (83.6%)	20 (1.4%)	102 (7.0%)	36 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.1%)	80 (5.5%)	79.1	126^th of 743 public high schools	83.0%		77.9	131^st of 735 public high schools	82.2%	5		64.4	41.6	50.8	44.4	$14,282	$1,271	$13,011
Grand River Preparatory High School	Public, Charter	9-12	650 52nd St SE	Grand Rapids	49548	Kent County	Grand River Preparatory High School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(616) 261-1800	604	31	19.6	70.4%	120 (19.9%)	125 (20.7%)	301 (49.8%)	14 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (7.1%)	50.2	338^th of 743 public high schools	54.5%		42.9	408^th of 735 public high schools	44.5%	70		49.2	18.9	42.4	36.5	$11,404	$1,185	$10,218
East Grand Rapids High School	Public	9-12	2211 Lake Dr SE	Grand Rapids	49506	Kent County	East Grand Rapids Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 235-7555	914	48	19.1	8.5%	747 (81.7%)	22 (2.4%)	51 (5.6%)	22 (2.4%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	70 (7.7%)	98.7	7^th of 743 public high schools	99.1%		98.7	6^th of 735 public high schools	99.2%	1		83.6	59.6	77.1	78.0	$12,838	$704	$12,134
Kelloggsville Virtual School	Public, Virtual	6-12	242 52nd St SE	Grand Rapids	49548	Kent County	Kelloggsville Public Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(616) 538-7460	81	8	9.7	80.2%	20 (24.7%)	16 (19.8%)	35 (43.2%)	2 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (9.9%)	19.5	603^rd of 743 public high schools	18.8%					(n/a)	64.3	31.3		17.7	23.5	$18,478	$980	$17,498
Kelloggsville High School	Public	9-12	4787 Division Ave S	Wyoming	49548	Kent County	Kelloggsville Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(616) 532-1570	632	32	19.5	80.7%	92 (14.6%)	172 (27.2%)	292 (46.2%)	40 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (5.7%)	15.1	631^st of 743 public high schools	15.1%		21.4	574^th of 735 public high schools	21.9%	57		22.3	7.4	22.3	21.8	$14,336	$1,440	$12,896

West Michigan Aviation Academy

West Michigan Aviation Academy:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

West Michigan Aviation Academy:

Average Parent Rating:

What do you think?

Rank History for West Michigan Aviation Academy

Rank History for all students at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Rank History for Special Education students at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Rank History for Female students at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Rank History for Male students at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Rank History for African American students at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Rank History for Hispanic students at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Rank History for White students at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Review counts

Enrollment information for West Michigan Aviation Academy

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at West Michigan Aviation Academy

Student/Teacher Ratio West Michigan Aviation Academy

Per Pupil Expenditures for West Michigan Aviation Academy

Impact of COVID-19 on West Michigan Aviation Academy

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near West Michigan Aviation Academy

Frequently Asked Questions about West Michigan Aviation Academy

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