Cross Creek Charter Academy, a Byron Center-area public charter school managed by National Heritage Academies (NHA) and authorized by Central Michigan University, has been named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.
Cross Creek is one of 11 elementary schools in Michigan to receive this distinction in 2023 out of 353 nationwide, and it was identified as an Exemplary High Performing School, which means it is among the state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally recognized tests.
“I am excited to highlight the great things our teachers, students, and families have accomplished,” said Cross Creek Principal Joe Nieuwkoop. “The Cross Creek community is a special place, and the recognition is well deserved. Our teachers and staff are the best and they deserve to be celebrated.”
Cross Creek Charter Academy is one of just 22 charter schools nationally to be named a National Blue Ribbon School this year. It’s also just the fourth charter school in Michigan history to be named a National Blue Ribbon School. The first three are also managed by NHA – Canton Charter Academy and Achieve Charter Academy, honored in 2018; and Eagle Crest Charter Academy in Holland, honored in 2019.
Since opening in 1997, Cross Creek Charter Academy has outperformed the local district for the past 13 years. Cross Creek has been ranked as the No. 1 charter elementary school in Michigan and state’s No. 7 charter middle school by U.S. News & World Report. The school serves more than 750 students from Young 5s to eighth grade.
Like all charter schools in Michigan, Cross Creek Charter Academy is free, public and open to all.
“We have built a school with academic excellence, student responsibility, Moral Focus, and parent partnerships as the core,” Nieuwkoop said. “It is exciting to see the passion and excitement around these beliefs.”
This year marks the 40th year that the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has recognized more than 9,000 schools across the country. Public and non-public schools are eligible for the award and may be nominated once within a five-year period.
This year’s ceremony will be a two-day event held on Thursday, Nov. 16 and Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, in Washington, D.C.
