{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Great Lakes Academy","outOfStateSupporters":37.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10165156,"projectId":9566909,"letterContent":"My students have enjoyed all the materials that were donated to our classroom! They were so excited to see all the new headphones and snacks that they received to get us through the school year. \r\nThe headphones had made such a big impact because we use the computers for learning apps such as I-Ready and require the students to be able to hear where they are at based on their levels. They also loved being able to choose the colors of their headphones to match their style. They all were excited to receive the different snack since many forget to eat in the morning or don't eat a big lunch at school so it helped to give them something on their belly.","fullyFundedDate":1755710682585,"projectUrl":"project/first-year-4th-grade-teacher/9566909/","projectTitle":"First Year, 4th Grade Teacher","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Wauters","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10165156"},{"teacherId":9927308,"projectId":9121605,"letterContent":"Thank you so much, these materials have really helped to improve the classroom. My students now have chair pockets where they are able to easily access their materials. They were also very excited to have new fresh crayons to use; these crayons are still being used even this year. There is nothing like having some fresh, new and sharp crayons!\r\n\r\nLast years students were so excited when all the boxes were coming in. Ecstatic to open them up to see what was inside the box. All the items that came in the boxes, have been used with so much love and are great tools added to the classroom. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I can't say it enough, you made a difference/impact just by making that donation to the classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1740569359010,"projectUrl":"project/creating-a-classroom-environment/9121605/","projectTitle":"Creating a Classroom Environment","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Anderson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9927308"},{"teacherId":1635979,"projectId":8842850,"letterContent":"The books you helped purchase for us have arrived! We have skimmed all of them and after the holidays we will begin reading each one thoroughly. The kids were especially interested in The Llama Who Had No Pajama because of the colorful front cover and the amusing illustrations. This book of poems will help my students learn about how authors use figurative language such as similies, metaphors, and idioms to create mind movies for readers. \r\n\r\nI read aloud a few of the poems without showing the pictures while encouraging the kids to use their imaginations. We talked about what the author made them think about while using the figurative language. They had a lot of fun with that quick activity and I heard a lot of 'That's what I pictured in my mind!' and 'That's not what I thought it would look like.'","fullyFundedDate":1728128920919,"projectUrl":"project/read-to-succeed-success-for-all/8842850/","projectTitle":"Read to Succeed! Success for All!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lomnicki","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1635979_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y386&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727711556993","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1635979"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_66594","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":162,"numTeachers":11,"percentFrplEligible":89,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":86,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":7,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"14.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":62.9,"schoolId":66594,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Great Lakes Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Great Lakes Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/michigan/michigan-department-of-education/great-lakes-academy/66594"}

Great Lakes Academy

Join the 116 supporters who believe in this school.

About this school

Great Lakes Academy is an urban public school in Pontiac, Michigan that is part of Michigan Department of Education. It serves 162 students in grades K - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.7:1. Its teachers have had 45 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades K - 8

162 Students

11 Teachers

46312 Woodward Ave

Pontiac, MI 48342 View local requests

http://www.greatlakesacademy.org

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Great Lakes Academy Teachers on DonorsChoose

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works

Great Lakes Academy Demographics

89%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

94%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Great Lakes Academy Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.

Great Lakes Academy

$22,525

raised using DonorsChoose

projects funded

teachers funded

116

donors

projects for basic supplies

projects for technology

projects for books

projects for art supplies

Great Lakes Academy has received support from 73 individuals from Michigan and 43 individuals out-of-state.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Great Lakes Academy

About this school

Equity Focus School

Great Lakes Academy Teachers on DonorsChoose

Share & help us grow support

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Great Lakes Academy Demographics

Great Lakes Academy Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

Great Lakes Academy

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.