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Charter schools in Spring Lake, MI

2 schools in Spring Lake, 11 more within 15 miles. Public, and free to attend.

Public charter schools (tuition-free)

Spring Lake charter schools at a glance

2 public charter schools give Spring Lake as their address in the 2025-26 federal school directory, and 11 more are within 15 miles. The 2 in town had about 622 students in 2024-25. 2 teach elementary grades and 0 teach high school. Every one is a public school that charges no tuition.

622 students, 2024-25
0 high schools
$0 tuition

Networks and districts with the most of these schools: Lighthouse Academy (3), Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System (3). Names as reported to the federal directory.

Charter schools in Spring Lake (2)

Largest first. Enrollment and teachers are from 2024-25; schools new in 2025-26 have no count yet.

Charter school Grades Students (2024-25) Per teacher Phone
West Michigan Academy of Arts and Academics K-8 371 12.7 (616) 844-9961
Walden Green Montessori K-8 251 19.6 (616) 842-4523

Nearby, within 15 miles (11)

Charter schools in other towns, nearest first. Online schools are left out here because their address is an office.

Charter school Grades Students (2024-25) Per teacher Town Miles Phone
Edgewood Elementary Academy PK-2 134 11.9 Muskegon 9 (231) 830-3280
Dr Martin Luther King Academy 3-5 105 14.2 Muskegon 9 (231) 830-3600
Muskegon Heights Academy 6-12 253 16.2 Muskegon 10 (231) 830-3700
Muskegon Montessori Academy for Environmental Change PK-8 154 13.9 Norton Shores 10 (231) 766-7500
Lighthouse Academy Ottawa Juvenile Detention Center 3-12 17 4.1 West Olive 11 (616) 786-4130
Three Oaks Public School Academy PK-6 363 15.2 Muskegon 11 (231) 767-3365
Muskegon Lakeshore High School Career Center 9-12 181 34.8 Muskegon 11 (330) 256-3294
Timberland Charter Academy PK-8 613 14.9 Muskegon 11 (231) 767-9700
Lighthouse AcademyMuskegon Community Building 6-12 19 7.8 Muskegon 11 (613) 949-2287
Muskegon Maritime Academy PK-5 141 18.1 Muskegon 11 (231) 724-7577
Lighthouse Academy The Port 5-12 14 5 Muskegon 11 (231) 767-7248

Charter schools: how they work

  • Public and free. NCES describes a public charter school as a publicly funded school, usually run by a group or organization under a contract (the charter) with the state, the district or another body. The federal definition says a charter school does not charge tuition.
  • Families choose it. Under the same definition, a charter school is one parents choose to send their children to, and it admits students by lottery when more apply than it has room for.
  • Its own rules, its own accountability. The charter frees the school from some state or local rules; in return it must meet the standards written in its charter. It is nonsectarian.
  • No program badge. ChoiceFunded’s program badges and “schools that accept” lists cover private schools only. Charter schools are listed separately here, with no badge, and are never counted with private schools.

Sources: 20 U.S.C. 7221i (federal Charter Schools Program definitions); NCES, Condition of Education: Public Charter School Enrollment. Each state writes its own charter law, so ask the school how enrollment works there.

Questions parents ask

How many charter schools are in Spring Lake?

2 public charter schools in the 2025-26 federal directory are in Spring Lake, and 11 more are within 15 miles. West Michigan Academy of Arts and Academics, Walden Green Montessori.

Do charter schools in Spring Lake charge tuition?

No. Charter schools are public schools, and the federal definition of a charter school says it does not charge tuition. Ask each school about fees for extras.

How do I enroll in a Spring Lake charter school?

Apply to each school directly. Under the federal definition, a charter school admits students by lottery when more apply than it has room for, so check each school’s application dates. Each state writes its own charter law.

School facts: U.S. Department of Education, Common Core of Data (2025-26 directory, 2024-25 enrollment and staff). Where our data comes from.

See charter schools How enrollment works