Here are some quick facts about the school. If you have any questions about University Prep Academy, please do not hesitate to contact us. We welcome your questions and look forward to helping you make an informed decision about your child's future.
- Is University Prep Academy a GRPS school or a charter? University Prep Academy is a GRPS school with a unique public-private partnership between GRPS and the community.
- Are PE, music, band, electives, etc. offered? University Prep Academy’s primary focus is on academics. Electives are offered, but the school looks to utilize as much as possible the resources found in the community to meet student interests. University Prep Academy has a partnership with the YMCA to offer a broad breadth of classes in which every student will participate. We are also working with other GRPS schools to offer music.
- What is the length of the school year? University Prep Academy follows the district's traditional school year calendar, starting school after Labor Day and ending in June.
- What is the start and end time of the school day? The school day is 7:45 am - 3:00 pm for high school students, and 8:00 am - 3:15 pm for middle school students; Breakfast is served from 7:20-7:45 am regardless of grade.
- Is transportation offered to the school? Transportation is not offered through the school. The current site is on a bus line, as will be the permanent location. Some parents have organized car-pooling, but this is managed by them, not the school.
- Are there any after-school programs? University Prep Academy is growing its before and after-school activities based on student interest and through student-led initiatives. Students can propose a before or after-school activity that interests them, and we will explore with each student the opportunity to offer it. This year we will offer a Foreign Language Lab for 8th + 9th grade students, cheerleading, tutoring and a special club for 6th + 7th grade students.
- Is there a school uniform? The school “uniform” is essentially what the larger community calls “business casual” – khaki colored casual/dress pants, skirt or dress, paired shirt purchased through the school with the school name on it, and loafers or dress shoes. School colors are khaki, navy and white.
- Is lunch provided like at other GRPS schools? University Prep Academy offers school lunch like other GRPS schools, but because we are a smaller site, there is only one selection per day. The school calendar is provided in advance so you know what is being offered. There are no soda machines at the school. Free and reduced lunches are offered.
- Where will the school’s permanent location be and will it be a new building? Grand Rapids University Prep Academy has a new building currently in the process of being built south of the Wealthy Street/Division Avenue intersection. The school will face Division Avenue, but access will be off of Sheldon Avenue.
- Are sports offered? University Prep Academy will be offering a broad selection of sports opportunities both alone and through collaborations with other GRPS schools including boys and girls basketball, football, baseball, volleyball and track. If your child is interested in a sport not offered a University Prep Academy, he or she has the option to participate through their attendance-area school as long as it does not interfere with the school day.
- Is there recess? Like other middle and high schools, there is no recess. Students do have ample time to socialize or move about in our school's design.
- What if my child wants to be in a different advisory than the one assigned to him or her? The advisory is one of the most important components of the school model. It is all about creating long-term relationships between the students themselves and the student and his or her advisor. Because of this, we try every possible solution to working within the advisory to resolve any problems. However, given very extenuating circumstances, a request to be reassigned to a different advisory will be explored after all other options have been exhausted.
- How many students will be in the school when it is a full middle/high school? When University Prep Academy is a full middle/high school in the fall of 2013, there will be 504 or less (72 students maximum per grade).
- When do students take part in the internship program and do all students participate in the same internships? The Internship program officially begins when a student enters high school. Staff will work closely with each student to match his or her interest with internship opportunities. Internships are offered throughout a student’s high school career. In the middle school, students begin their career exploration process through trips to local businesses/organizations via a Job Shadow (8th grade) and professionals who visit the classroom in Reverse Job Shadows (6th + 7th grade).
