At WayPoint, students experience a small, safe and supportive environment were they feel welcomed, appreciated and valued. WayPoint is where they can discover true success. The entire (missing word) works to create an environment where students of all learning styles are able to thrive.

We provide a challenging academic program, based upon the Michigan Merit Curriculum, focused on preparing our students to be successful on the Michigan Merit Exam, which is given to all 11th graders throughout the State each Spring.

But we believe there is more to success than strong academics. We believe to be truly successful in this 21st century, our students need to possess and practice effective social/people skills, need to practice appropriate etiquette, need to possess and practice effective employability skills, and need to be astute financially – possessing the knowledge, understanding and practice of strong financials. We want them to become effective financial planners and practitioners, realizing and practicing powerful and effective earning, savings and investing principles.  

Our goal is to have all of our students understand and practice the financial principles leading to a life free of overwhelming debt; a life of financial stability!

Only at WayPoint can a student own his/her personal financial account in an on-site student credit union – operated in partnership with a local credit union.

The Need

• Students simply must be better prepared as high school graduates
• It is progressively less expensive to automate functions that used to be performed by people. Fewer low skill, routine jobs are available each year for those who graduate unprepared for the increasing demands of today’s global, highly competitive workplace
• Those without strong academic skills, personal qualities, work ethic and financial literacy will continue to be disenfranchised

The Guarantee*

• For the Student: Placement into post secondary education/training or into entry level employment in their chosen Career Pathway
• For the Employer and/or Post Secondary Institution: Graduate’s success on the job or in school…or Academy
  continues to work with student toward such proficiency

* Guarantee supported by our “once WayPoint, always WayPoint”
philosophy and practice

The Requirements

• Must be a WayPoint student on or before the beginning of his/her 9th grade year
• Must reach “proficiency” on MME (MI Merit Exam) as defined by the State of MI
• Must reach “proficiency” on WorkKeys® employability skills assessment
• Must complete & present a comprehensive Career Portfolio, reflecting level of success on Career Readiness Components,  to a 9 member panel (community CEO, 2 MTA Board members, 2 teachers, Dir of Career Services, 1 HR professional, 1 student, & Academy Supt.); panel determines certification recommendation

The Certification Components

Academic Skills

• Reading & Writing (narrative & technical)
• Communication (speaking & listening)
• Mathematics
• Logic & Reasoning
• Research skills
• Integrated Technology

 Personal Qualities

• Challenge myself
• Observe school rules
• Be ready & prepared
• Respect myself & others
• Act Responsibly & Safely

 Work Ethic

• Punctual (95%+)
• Dependable (95%+ attendance)
• Teamwork/Team Player
• Give/receive feedback on performance (peer assessment)
• Achieves minimum of 80% proficiency in all classes (graduates with minimum 2.90 GPA)

 Financial Literacy

• Personal Finance Course Objectives mastery
• Owns a personal account in a financial institution