WMAES offers grades PreK through 12th grade.
Elementary school starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:05 p.m.
Middle and High school starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m.
Transportation is not provided by the school. Students are brought by their parents or ride the Rapid bus which has a stop at the Wilson and Leonard intersection.
Students K – 12 are required to wear uniforms. PreK is not required to wear uniforms.
Uniform requirements include:
We’re pleased to share that our uniform provider now has items featuring the new WMAES logo available for online ordering—with free shipping to your home!
Just click the link below and click “Shop Now”—then navigate to the Uniform category to explore all that’s available. We’re especially excited to let you know that several new, lower-cost uniform t-shirt options have been added for your convenience.
WMAES offers a quality hot lunch program that exceeds all healthy choice requirements.
The first step is to call or e-mail your child's teacher. If you continue to have concerns, you may contact your child's principal. It is important to pre-arrange a time to see your child's teacher or an administrator.
Regular school attendance is of the utmost importance to your child’s adjustment to school and contributes to the realization of the importance of education. When they are not in school, students also miss valuable instruction and fall behind academically and socially. If you arrive late or must pick up your child early, please call the office where you will need to sign your child in and out.
WMAES expects an attendance rate of 90% or higher. This adds up to about 4 absences per quarter.
If a student accumulates 3 counted absences within the first 30 school days, or their attendance rate falls below 90% at any given point in the school year, our attendance team will send a first notice via email on file. This email will include resources for attendance improvement. Additional resources and support can be provided after determining the specific needs of families. Failure to comply and work to improve student attendance will result in a referral to the Kent ISD Truancy department. After the first referral is made, families are responsible to contact the attendance team and set up a time to create an attendance improvement plan together.
When a student is absent from school for ten consecutive days without knowledge of the Principal, the student will be withdrawn from the Academy and the student’s directory information will be reported to the truancy office of the intermediate school district and other state and local agencies. During the period of consecutive absences, the Principal and other support staff will attempt to contact the student’s parent/guardian. Please refer to the student handbook for additional information.
To report your student absent or tardy, call us below. Option 2 for elementary. Option 3 for secondary.
You will know your child is learning through our standardized testing (M-STEP, NWEA, Benchmark assessments and teacher assessments) but also by how well your student is progressing in their individualized learning plan.
Twice each school year, parents must meet with the child’s teacher to receive a progress report on the child’s academic, behavioral, and citizenship progress. Parents are encouraged to discuss the information on the report card with their child and to encourage excellence in achievement and behavior. The purpose of report cards is to communicate to parents and students the child’s progress on the knowledge and skills the student is working on in class and to provide insight into the child’s behavior.
Academic reports for all students are distributed after each quarter and semesters end. Every elementary learning environment educator will arrange at least one planned conference with each child’s parent(s)/guardian per year. It is understood that educators shall, if necessary, arrange additional conferences with parents. Conferences with educators must be scheduled during non-instructional time.
Please remember that every teacher has their own unique instructional style, but all classes at WMAES will be centered around Environmental Science. All our teachers practice differentiated instruction. This allows our teachers to meet the needs of all students whether it is accelerating students, modifying assignments or additional support we believe in teaching to each child’s needs and abilities.
Charter schools extend the privilege of choice to all families. They provide options for parents and students in pursuing their ideal educational experience. Charter schools are open to all children free of charge who are eligible to attend traditional public schools in the state of Michigan.
Children attending charter schools benefit from small class sizes, high academic standards, and innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Charter schools are organized by a founding group that is passionate about the basic tenets of the curriculum. Enthusiasm for the school is contagious.
Board members, staff members, parents, students, and community members are attracted to the charter school because their interests coincide with the charter school’s educational program and special themes. Parents also typically transport their children to school, which means that parents have a stronger connection and more active communications with the faculty and staff.
Homework is a necessary and integral part of a child’s education. The purpose of homework is to reinforce those skills and concepts taught in the learning environment. Homework also includes work not finished during class time. Parental support and cooperation are very important in this area. Helping students with their homework shows you are interested in their education. A request for homework for a child that is ill should be made the first morning the child is absent. This will allow time for the educator to organize the materials. Homework may be picked up in the office the following school day morning.
West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science is a tuition-free Pre-k through 12th grade public charter school in Grand Rapids, MI open to ages 3 years old and up.
We have a new look! Welcome to the new and improved WMAES website. We hope you enjoy this updated layout and fresh content!