Dickinson Building

33rd Annual Grand Rapids Turkey Trot Thursday, November 27th Thanksgiving Day outside Van Andel Arena—Mini Trot for children 12 and under starts at 8:10, followed by My Team Triumph at 8:27, and the 5K Run/Walk begins at 8:30 am! Click here to Register

Restore and Renew Enhancement Millage This November, local voters will consider renewing and restoring the 2017 Enhancement Millage. Click here to learn more!

Welcome to Dickinson Academy (PK-8)

I am deeply proud to be the principal of Dickinson Academy Cultural Center. These walls give our students knowledge and represent an incredibly colorful mosaic of traditions, languages, and worldviews that add so much value to our education.

Our classrooms resonate with a mix of multiculturalism as each student speaks one of 12 different languages. The languages spoken further demonstrate the distinctiveness and uniqueness of our school community. Our diversity is more than mere statistics; it defines our very being.

Our staff, hailing from various backgrounds and possessing diverse skills, are the backbone of our school. We are a united front, always vigilant to ensure that every student is seen, heard, and respected, fostering an environment of inclusivity and respect.

“We are Stronger and Better Together.”

Principal
Cindy Rivera Madera

School Apps

Dickinson Academy

448 Dickinson St. SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49507

Phone: 616-819-2505

Fax: 616-819-2502

Cindy Rivera Madera

Principal

Thomas James

Scholar Success Coordinator

Maria Mateo

Head Secretary

School Hours

Breakfast 8:10 a.m.
Start Time 8:30 a.m.
Dismissal 3:28 p.m.
Half Day Dismissal 11:40 a.m.

School Transparency

Annual Reports More...

School Safety Drills Reports More...

KSSN

We are a Community School!
Connect with your KSSN Coordinator

At Dickinson Academy, we foster a supportive environment where everyone develops into confident, resourceful, and responsible members of our school, neighborhood, and global community.

Dickinson Academy strives to build a nurturing, cohesive, and student-focused community by facilitating meaningful interactions inside and outside the classroom. Our dedication to intentional and relevant teaching ensures that every student can excel academically and socially.

We value strong collaborations between our school, families, and the broader community. To support this, we collaborate closely with the Kent Schools Services Network. As a Cultural Center, we also provide English as a Second Language (ESL) services through our experienced, bilingual staff.

Meet Our Principal

Dickinson Academy Points of Pride

School Assemblies
Scholar leadership groups
Field trips and experiential learning opportunities
Cultural recognitions and celebrations
Spirit and Inclusion Weeks
Family and Academic Nights
STEM Greenhouse programming
After school tutoring programs
Social Emotional Learning

We have incorporated distance learning for years and are poised to be a leader in the district as a blended model of new technologies and old practices, giving our students the best of both worlds. Our 1-to-1 student technology device approach ensures that every student has the opportunity to learn inside and outside the classroom.

Dickinson Academy was built in 2008 and is designed for academic excellence. Special features include hallway design that encourages group learning to acoustic engineering that makes it easier to hear teachers in the classroom. It is located in Southeast Grand Rapids.

Dickinson Academy Photo Tour

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Events

8 Oct
- New GRPS Elementary School Ceremonial Groundbreaking 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM
  
  New GRPS Elementary School Ceremonial Groundbreaking
  
  Date: Oct 8
  
  Time: 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM
  
  Location: Aberdeen Academy K-8 Elementary, 928 Aberdeen St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505, USA
  
  Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
20 Oct
- No School | No LOOP Programming
  
  No School | No LOOP Programming
  
  Date: Oct 20
  
  Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
31 Oct
- Half Day of School for Scholars | No LOOP Programming
  
  Half Day of School for Scholars | No LOOP Programming
  
  Date: Oct 31
  
  Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
4 Nov
- No School | No LOOP Programming
  
  No School | No LOOP Programming
  
  Date: Nov 4
  
  Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
26 Nov
thru Nov 28
- No School | No LOOP Programming | Thanksgiving Break
  
  No School | No LOOP Programming | Thanksgiving Break
  
  Date: Nov 26 - Nov 28
  
  Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
22 Dec
thru Jan 2
- No School | No LOOP Programming | Winter Break
  
  No School | No LOOP Programming | Winter Break
  
  Date: Dec 22 - Jan 2
  
  Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
3 Apr
thru Apr 10
- No School | No LOOP Programming | Spring Break
  
  No School | No LOOP Programming | Spring Break
  
  Date: Apr 3 - Apr 10
  
  Calendar: GRPS District Calendar

View School Calendar

‹ October 2025 ›

Oct 8

4:30 PM to 5:30 PM

New GRPS Elementary School Ceremonial Groundbreaking

Location: Aberdeen Academy K-8 Elementary, 928 Aberdeen St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505, USA

Calendar: GRPS District Calendar

Oct 20

No School | No LOOP Programming

Calendar: GRPS District Calendar

Oct 31

Half Day of School for Scholars | No LOOP Programming

Calendar: GRPS District Calendar

View All Calendars

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Principal Profile: Early learning at GRPS inspired career in education October 7, 2025

For Julie Fogg Reyers, Principal at Ridgemoor Park Montessori, the spark for a lifelong career in education began right here at Grand Rapids Public Schools.

GRPS alumna returns to inspire scholars at Burton Middle School October 6, 2025

A proud GRPS alumna, JoCara Coleman returned to the district as Burton Middle School’s In-House Specialist, eager to give back to the community where she grew up.

Union High School Hosts Inaugural Cultural Celebration, Highlighting Scholar Unity October 2, 2025

On Friday, September 26, Union High School’s campus buzzed with excitement as it hosted its first-ever Cultural Celebration, an event designed to honor and celebrate the diverse identities of its scholars.