CROSSROADS CHARTER ACADEMY

'Crossroads Charter Academy' is a K-12 charter school located in Big Rapids, Michigan in Mecosta County.
Originally founded as a K-8 school in 1998, classes met in the former Big Rapids High School building on North State Street.
In 1999, Crossroads added a ninth grade level and continued adding one grade level per year. In August 2002, Crossroads became a K-12 school. In that same year, the school began construction of its new high school building across West Spruce Street. Construction was completed in February, 2003, and high school classes were held in that building weeks afterwards.
The school participates in several sports, including men's soccer, co-ed cross-country track, women's basketball, men's basketball, women's volleyball, women's soccer, co-ed track, and men's baseball.
Students at Crossroads who earn satisfactory scores on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program examination and have a satisfactory grade point average may dual-enroll at Ferris State University to attend college classes for credit during school hours. Students may also attend the local Career Center and the Math and Science Center, both run by the Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District.
Crossroads held commencement ceremonies for its inaugural graduating class, the class of 2003, on May 30, 2003. The first senior class consisted of 23 students. Valedictorian Nathan Ovans and salutatorian John Videtich lead the inaugural class in academics, and both aspire to be engineers.
Crossroads Charter Academy was distinguished as the first charter school in Michigan to win a state sports championship when the Cougar girls' cross-country team won the state finals in 2004. The Crossroads girls repeated as state champions the following year.
Recently, Crossroads faced its first crisis of leadership when superintendent David Vander Goot was let go by the school's board. Since then, there have been some calls for the board to be elected by the parents of Crossroads. As it currently stands, new board members are elected by the existing board.
As the 2007-08 school year approaches no significant changes have been made to the school other than a new principal/athletic director to replace former superintendent David Vander Goot and former athletic director Christine Gruppen. (maiden name) The new, combined position was filled by science teacher/vice-principal, Steve Locke. While a new superintendant is being sought after, elementary principal, Karen Christensen will be an interim superintendent.
'Links'
CCA website