Dickinson Building

Count Day is Wednesday, February 11! Attendance is important and counts every single day, but on Wednesday, February 11, it counts for a percentage of your school’s funding. Make sure that your scholar is in class on Wednesday, February 11.

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.”

Cindy Rivera Madera

Principal

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

10 Feb
- Ottawa Hills Bengals Girls Basketball Youth Night 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM
  
  Ottawa Hills Bengals Girls Basketball Youth Night
  
  Date: Feb 10
  
  Time: 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM
  
  Location: Ottawa Hills High School, 2055 Rosewood Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506, USA
  
  Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
16 Feb
thru Feb 17
- No School | No LOOP Programming | Mid-Winter Break
  
  No School | No LOOP Programming | Mid-Winter Break
  
  Date: Feb 16 - Feb 17
  
  Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
5 Mar
- 2026 LatinX Youth Conference
  
  2026 LatinX Youth Conference
  
  Date: Mar 5
  
  Location: Grand Rapids Community College
  
  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
18 May
- CA Frost Middle High School Graduation Ceremony 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  
  CA Frost Middle High School Graduation Ceremony
  
  Date: May 18
  
  Time: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  
  Location: Houseman Field, 162 Houseman Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
  
  Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
- Union High School Graduation Ceremony 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
  
  Union High School Graduation Ceremony
  
  Date: May 18
  
  Time: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
  
  Location: Houseman Field, 162 Houseman Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
  
  Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
19 May
- Southwest Middle High Academia Bilingue Graduation Ceremony 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  
  Southwest Middle High Academia Bilingue Graduation Ceremony
  
  Date: May 19
  
  Time: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  
  Location: Houseman Field, 162 Houseman Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
  
  Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
- Innovation Central High School & Grand Rapids Montessori Graduation Ceremony 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
  
  Innovation Central High School & Grand Rapids Montessori Graduation Ceremony
  
  Date: May 19
  
  Time: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
  
  Location: Houseman Field, 162 Houseman Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
  
  Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
20 May
- Ottawa Hills High School Graduation Ceremony 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  
  Ottawa Hills High School Graduation Ceremony
  
  Date: May 20
  
  Time: 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  
  Location: Houseman Field, 162 Houseman Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
  
  Calendar: GRPS District Calendar
- Grand Rapids Public Museum High School Graduation Ceremony 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
  
  Grand Rapids Public Museum High School Graduation Ceremony
  
  Date: May 20
  
  Time: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
  
  Location: Houseman Field, 162 Houseman Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
  
  Calendar: GRPS District Calendar

View School Calendar

‹ February 2026 ›

Feb 10

4:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Ottawa Hills Bengals Girls Basketball Youth Night

Location: Ottawa Hills High School, 2055 Rosewood Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506, USA

Calendar: GRPS District Calendar

Feb 16

No School | No LOOP Programming | Mid-Winter Break

Calendar: GRPS District Calendar

Feb 17

No School | No LOOP Programming | Mid-Winter Break

Calendar: GRPS District Calendar

View All Calendars Subscribe to Calendars

Innovation Central Academy of Design & Construction earns state-approved CTE status February 5, 2026

Innovation Central High School’s Academy of Design & Construction has received state-approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) status from the Michigan Department of Education, marking a historic milestone for Grand Rapids Public Schools.

Ottawa Hills standout signs to play football at the University of Olivet February 4, 2026

Ottawa Hills High School senior Xzavier Lawler will continue his football career at the University of Olivet after officially signing his letter of intent.

Rapid Growth GR: 5 things you may not know about Blandford School in Grand Rapids February 3, 2026

Flora Duckworth-Guerra, a sixth-grader, uses five original illustrations to show what happens at Blandford. She highlights the songs, chores, doodles, “magic spots,” and confidence-building moments that make this year-long program unique compared to other school experiences in Grand Rapids.