West Michigan Aviation Academy
West Michigan Aviation Academy (WMAA) is a charter high school in Cascade Township, Michigan, near Grand Rapids.[1][2]
| West Michigan Aviation Academy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
| |
5363 44th Street Southeast , 49512 United States | |
| Coordinates | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public, Charter |
| Established | September 2010 |
| Founders | Dick Devos, Betsy DeVos |
| CEEB code | 231687 |
| CEO | Nicole Gasper |
| Staff | 60 |
| Faculty | 39 |
| Grades | 9 to 12 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Enrollment | 538 (as of 2015-16) |
| Campus size | 67,500 sq. ft. |
| Color(s) | Blue and Orange |
| Team name | Aviators Athletics |
| Tuition | Free |
| Website | West Michigan Aviation Academy |
History
In 2010, pilot and billionaire Dick DeVos established WMAA on the suggestion of his wife, Betsy DeVos. The academy is a tuition-free public charter high school. The initial enrollment of 80 students assembled for the Fall term of 2010 in a 25,000 square feet (2,300 m2) renovated office facility located on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.[3]
They quickly realized that more space would be needed and it wasn't long before expansion plans were on the drafting board. On the first day of the 2012–13 school year, more than 240 Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors found their high school home had expanded with a new 42,500 sq. ft. addition. This new addition enabled not only expansion in space, but also in curriculum, student life, and aviation programs. The new building gave the academy the capacity to educate 500 students.
In 2014, the school administration expected to have a population of 500 for the upcoming fall semester.[4]
References
- "Home". West Michigan Aviation Academy. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
5363 44th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
- "Street Index Map". Cascade Charter Township. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
- West Michigan Aviation Academy (2016). About. Retrieved on 2016-11-24 from http://www.westmichiganaviation.org/about.
- Gryczan, Matthew (2014-03-09). "Winging it: Use aviation in education? Grand Rapids charter school finds that the idea can fly" (Archive). Crain's Detroit Business. March 9, 2014. Retrieved on 2015-12-05 from http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140309/NEWS/140309868/winging-it-use-aviation-in-education-grand-rapids-charter-school via archive at https://www.webcitation.org/6dXEnKY8l.