Celebrating 30 Years of Excel Charter Academy

Excel Charter Academy is the first National Heritage Academies^® (NHA^®) charter school. Excel opened its doors in 1995, marking the beginning of NHA’s entrance into the charter school space.

J.C. Huizenga, chair and founder of NHA, shares his pride: “When Excel Charter Academy was founded, we embarked on a journey to create an educational model that focused not only on academic achievements but also on character development. It’s heartening to see the profound impact we’ve had on the lives of so many families.”

Excel started with 174 students and has grown to over 780 in grades K-8. But it’s not just the number of students that’s grown, so has the commitment to excellence. For the past 16 years, Excel has outperformed the local district in all subjects on the state test and is considered one of Michigan’s top elementary and middle charter schools.

That commitment to excellence has impacted thousands of students and their families over the past 30 years.

Principal Dan Bartels has been a dedicated part of the Excel community for 28 of the school’s 30 years, “Excel embodies a strong sense of community. We strive to do the common things uncommonly well, maintaining high educational standards while nurturing an engaging learning environment.”

Here’s to 30 years of excellence and growth at Excel Charter Academy!

Together, along with now 100-plus NHA schools, we will continue to elevate our mission of providing a high-quality, tuition-free education that empowers every child on their path to success.