Yes! The construction of the school building was finished in July of 2019, and the first year of school started in the fall of 2019.

Each grade at the Academy will serve 75 students with a classroom size of 25 students. We are currently serving 600 students for the 2022-2023 school year with the anticipation of growth over the next few years while adding ninth – 12^th grade.

Students living in Michigan and preparing to enter kindergarten through 6th grade would be eligible to apply. Due to demand, FCCA holds a lottery to select which students get selected.

Each year, the school will determine how many seats will be available in each grade. This information will be publicly posted, as well as the enrollment process, and the beginning and end date for the enrollment process. If fewer students apply then there are seats available, and all are admitted. If more apply than seats are available, seats are granted using a random selection process (a lottery). This random selection will be done at a meeting that is open to the public and conducted by an independent third party. Students who did not get a seat in the lottery are placed on an official waitlist and are notified if seats are available later.

Once enrolled, students do not have to apply for the second year and may re-enroll without going through the lottery, if the appropriate grade level is offered. Siblings, children of those working at the school, and children of board members may receive enrollment priority.

Flint Cultural Center leaders wanted to create a new charter school that would build on the assets of the Cultural Center institutions: The Flint Institute of Arts, Flint Institute of Music, Flint Public Library, Flint Repertory Theatre, Longway Planetarium, Sloan Museum, Applewood, and The Whiting. The Flint Cultural Center Academy builds on the assets and expertise of the Cultural Center and creates a learning opportunity that doesn’t exist anywhere else in our region. It provides an immersive experience for students who want an education that’s grounded in the arts and sciences.

Flint Cultural Center Academy also highlights the excellence that is present in our community and highlights the spirit of innovation and commitment to excellence that exists in Flint.

In addition to receiving high-quality classroom instruction, students participate each school day in activities and programs at one of the Cultural Center institutions. These unique learning experiences engage students in science, as well as the fine/performing/visual arts, in ways they otherwise might not encounter. These activities reflect and reinforce the learning taking place in the school classroom setting. This results in a cohesive, engaging, and stimulating educational experience.

• Create a school that is unique and highly effective, a school that combines great classroom instruction with daily instruction delivered by experts on campus, resulting in a culture of creative, curious and inspired learning — students will be learning at every point of the school day, whether they realize it or not.
• Create a school that seeks to set new, quantifiable norms for student academic growth, engagement and community impact.
• Develop school programs that complement and enhance existing Cultural Center partnerships and outreach.
• Leverage the extensive investments that have already been made on campus — the facilities and amenities, the expert educators and the common and shared services that are already in place. Much like the basis for the original community school program — identify and take advantage of the capacity that exists and look for ways to increase the return on investment to the community.
• Create a school that serves children and families in such a way that it becomes nationally recognized as an example of the excellence that is possible in Flint, Michigan.
• Create a program that is self-sustaining and will not require any financial assistance from the campus institutions.

We have partnered with EL Education, a national nonprofit organization specializing in K-12 education, to create a curriculum and culture that supports student engagement, achievement and character development. EL provides a structure and practices that will allow us to develop a school culture based on respect for all, learning driven by engagement and inquiry, and staff learning based on the EL Core Practices. EL provides a process for developing a school that does whatever it takes for every child to achieve their best, and be their best.

EL’s award-winning literacy program will form the foundation of the core curriculum. For more information, please visit eleducation.org.

• A music program that offers three periods of instruction provided by Flint Institute of Music staff per week for every student and prepares students to form an orchestra by fourth grade.
• Students connect at least one social studies and one science lesson per week to resources at the Sloan Museum and Longway Planetarium.
• In addition to art being taught specifically to each student twice a week by the Flint Institute of Arts staff, we integrate art and drama into core classroom lessons as well.
• Both print and digital literacy are taught on a weekly basis to each student through the resources from the Flint Public Library.
• Tremendous seasonal and topical learning experiences are provided through The Whiting, Flint Repertory Theatre, and Applewood Estate.

No. The Flint Cultural Center Academy reimburses the Cultural Center institutions for all services and materials utilized while providing instruction to FCCA students.

Yes! Please visit our forms page for more information.

Yes. The partnerships and commitment to the Flint Community Schools and other regional schools are not affected. The Cultural Center institutions continue to offer high-quality educational programming for students throughout the area.

We’re not seeking to compete with any other school or district. We simply want to offer an exceptional learning opportunity for students who want an education that provides hands-on experience with the arts and sciences. It is another way to put all that the Cultural Center institutions have to offer to the very best use — educating kids.

The school has its own board of directors, principal, and teaching staff.

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation provided the funding to build, furnish, and equip the school.

At roughly 78,000 square feet, the school features 27 classrooms, a gymnasium, cafeteria, multiple collaborative learning spaces, and an enclosed walkway between the school, the Flint Institute of Music, and the Sloan Museum.

No. Millage funds are dedicated to supporting the operations of the Flint Cultural Center Corporation, Flint Institute of Arts, Flint Institute of Music, Flint Public Library, Flint Repertory Theatre, Longway Planetarium, Sloan Museum, and The Whiting. The millage is targeted at sustaining existing educational partnerships with schools in our area, as well as providing the high-quality programs, shows, and services that county residents have come to expect from the Flint Cultural Center.

As with all public schools (traditional and charter) in Michigan, the school receives funding from the state for each student who attends. The FCCA will also seek grants and donations to enhance student learning opportunities.

As open enrollment schools, charters cannot discriminate based on a student’s disability status. Charters are subject to the same requirements as all other public schools when it comes to serving students with disabilities, and must educate all students in accordance with their IEP, 504 plan, in the same way that every other public school does.

Charter teachers must be certified in the same way as all other public school teachers. The Michigan Department of Education has a good online resource to explain the most up-to-date laws and policies regarding teacher certification.

See: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-5683_14795—,00.html

Please contact the main office at 810-339-8750