West Michigan Aviation Academy

West Michigan Aviation Academy (WMAA) is a tuition- free public charter high school for grades 9-12. We are located on the campus of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, MI.

With a curriculum rich in aviation, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), and robotics, WMAA provides a unique educational opportunity for students to focus specifically on high-growth employment fields during their high school education. This better equips them to pursue higher education or technical degrees, and find employment in their chosen field.

WMAA is also one of only a few high schools in the nation where a student can earn a private pilot license as part of the high school curriculum. In the fall of 2021, we opened a new Flight Training Center across from our main building. This building houses many of our aviation and aerospace courses, including ground school, flight training, Build a Plane and more. It also provides hangar space for the school airplanes.

WMAA opened its doors in 2010 with 75 students. The school grew rapidly, and reached its chartered capacity in 2016. We routinely draw students from 40-50 school districts, typically within a seven-county...