Welcome, visitors!
Please use the LINKS menu at the right to navigate to information commonly sought by families investigating Black River. For the whole picture, please visit our main school site, where you can read classroom newsletters, check out the school calendar and get the details on academics, musics, sports and more.
With a MISSION of preparing students for college and life, we have established our school as a consistent producer of superior results. Black River offers a UNIQUE school environment with small class sizes and a CHALLENGING curriculum which fosters student engagement in their own education and enhances student responsibility and accountability. We also have the full support and resources provided by our charter, Grand Valley State University. The GVSU Charter team helps to raise our community of learners and educators to the next level.
Recognizing that FAMILY SUPPORT is a vital component of the educational and personal success of our students, parents are engaged in every aspect of the school. Life-long learning, mutual respect and achievement of personal potential are BEDROCK VALUES throughout all grades at Black River.
Our elementary program is MONTESSORI-based, fostering self-motivation, concentration and advancement at individual rates.
In our middle school, students work in an INTERDISCIPLINARY CURRICULUM encompassing world culture, literature, history and geography, along with challenging math and science courses.
Black River ’s high school continues the ADVANCEMENT BY ABILITY and interest concept of the middle and elementary schools. Graduation requirements mirror those suggested by the University of Michigan for college-bound students. MEAP standardized test scores consistently exceed local and state averages.
Because we believe EXPERIENCE to be the best teacher, Black River provides an opportunity outside the traditional classroom setting for all students to learn hands-on. Our PROJECT TERM, unique in the area, is held during the last four weeks of school. During this time students choose from classes covering a wide range of subjects such as: fencing, foreign travel, robotics, money management, comparative law, computer assembly, creative writing, drama, forensic chemistry, linguistics and many other topics. Students have also organized their own independent study projects, such as working for a veterinarian, writing for the newspaper or rebuilding an engine.
Please contact Kelli Heneghan, Enrollment Coordinator at 616-355-0055 x 116 or email heneghank@brpsk12.org for more information. Our annual Open House in February is a wonderful time to visit our campus and meet with faculty, staff, current parents, students, coaches and more. This coincides with our Open Enrollment period (October - mid-February) before the school lottery in March.
We look forward to talking with you!
Cordially,
Shannon E. Brunink
Head of School