For the second consecutive year, Northridge Academy has been honored as a “Rewards” School by the Michigan Department of Education. In 2012, as part of its educational reform priorities, the MDE adopted“a system of State Board of Education rewards for High Performing and High Progressing Schools.” In 2013 and again in 2014, Northridge Academy was recognized as a high achieving school, and as one that achieved “against all odds.”
Northridge Academy is an inner city charter school located at 530 W. Pierson Road on the former St. Agnes Catholic School campus. 95% of its students receive free or reduced lunch, which is another way of saying most of its students come from low and moderate income homes. So normally, with that demographic, the expectation is low academic achievement. Northridge Academy students defied the odds by achieving in a high manner in spite of those low expectations.
“Our students love this school and they love coming to school,” said Mrs. Latricia Brown Coates, School Leader at Northridge. “Our staff has worked extremely hard to create a culture here that puts students and learning first and foremost.”
Mrs. Brown Coates was quick to add: “we use our data-driven instructional model to the maximum to pinpoint student deficiencies. Once those deficiencies are identified, we zero in on them to take corrective action. Our staff has bought into both our culture and our instructional model. They’ll stay here long into the night to make sure every student is progressing as he or she should.”
According to the president of the Northridge Academy Board of Director’s, Charles H. Winfrey, the culture of the school didn’t change by happenstance. “Mrs. Brown Coates is being modest. She and her leadership team have worked exceedingly hard to change the mindset at Northridge, from one that merely tolerated students to one that loves students, and from one that settled for adequate academic progress to one that expects the best from every student,” Winfrey said.
School leadership goes to great lengths to broaden the horizons of Northridge students. The school offers classes in Spanish, the performing arts, and arts and crafts. It offers an after-school program through the GISD and it offers field trips to students to expand their experiences. Free bus transportation is provided to students to and from the school campus.
The Northridge Academy mission statement reads: “Northridge Academy will provide learning in a safe, caring, and respectful environment that is second to none. The academy will employ best practices to produce well-educated, compassionate students ready to compete in a global society.” It is safe to say the school leader and staff are fulfilling that mission “against all odds.”
As a charter school, Northridge Academy can enroll students who live anywhere in the state of Michigan. Call 810-785-8811 if interested in enrollment.
Northridge Academy is managed by the Leona Group, LLC, and authorized by Ferris State University.
