GVSU, Excel Charter Academy mark 30 years of innovation in education

"When Excel Charter Academy was founded, the school had to blaze its own path because there was no model for it to follow," Breen said. "Within a few years, the outcomes it was helping students achieve made it the model of success for other communities across the country."

ECA serves more than 780 K-8 students and stands out as one of the top elementary and middle charter schools across GVSU's network of schools.

In its annual rankings of the nation's elementary and middle schools, U.S. News and World Report ranked ECA ninth among Michigan's charter middle schools and 10th among the state's charter elementary schools. ECA also placed at No. 41 on the publication's listing of all Michigan public middle schools.

"We have a tremendous relationship with Grand Valley," said Dan Bartels, Excel's principal. "Every year, there are professional development opportunities GVSU is willing to offer.

"The support Grand Valley lends is very encouraging. It's exactly what we need to help us and our teachers."

Bartels, who's been at Excel for 28 of its 30 years, said the school prides itself on building a strong sense of community among staff, teachers, families and students.

"We want to do the common things uncommonly well," Bartels said. "That's one of our themes. We want to do academics like every school would but do it at a high level.

"Also important is character education, the focus on having fun in the right way, and on building community. We talk a lot about moral focus virtues with students."

Marking 30 years of partnership, GVSU and ECA continue to demonstrate how innovation and collaboration can drive student success, Breen said. The relationship forged in 1995 remains a foundation for new ideas and opportunities in public education.

"We are proud to be the school's authorizer and even more proud of all that the Excel community accomplishes every year," Breen said. "Its impact is immeasurable."