Learn About & Apply to

Making Waves Academy

4123 Lakeside Drive, Richmond, CA 94806

Mission

Making Waves Academy (MWA) commits to rigorously and holistically preparing students to gain acceptance to and graduate from college to ultimately become valuable contributors to the workforce and their communities.

Curriculum & Instruction

MWA places a strong emphasis on preparing students with rigorous, holistic instruction that develops 21st century skills. Both the upper school and middle school incorporate project-based learning, differentiated tiered instruction (DTI) periods, and opportunities for enrichment and advancement within core day programming. An emphasis on college and career readiness is woven into instruction with Common Core-aligned curriculum, and additional academic support and coaching are available through advisory, after school support, and DTI intervention programming. Watch our video here.

Culture & Safety

MWA employs restorative justice, socio-emotional programming, advisory, homerooms, and a variety of student-led clubs and activities that celebrate and uphold campus culture. MWA holds monthly parent meetings to organize and build out parent volunteer and involvement activities on the school campus.

Programs & Activities

MWA offers annual study trips, adventure trips, student clubs and activities, a vibrant after-school program, athletics, and a College & Career Counseling department that is building out college and career readiness programming for grades 5–12. MWA communicates with parents and families via a weekly newsletter, Automated Telephone Messages (ATMs), monthly parent meetings, and school committees such as School Site Council and English Learner Advisory Committee, which include parent leadership.

COVID-19 Safety Information

Please see the school’s website for COVID-19 safety information

Enrollment Priorities

The following information will be used to prioritize applicants at Making Waves Academy (MWA) during the Round One student assignment process. No particular type of applicant is guaranteed admission, and all applicants are prioritized in the following way:

  1. Students who have a sibling currently attending, or a sibling who graduated from MWA or the MW Education Program
  2. Children of MWA employees*
  3. Students who qualify for the Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) program and reside in the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) attendance boundaries
  4. Students who qualify for FRL and reside in Contra Costa County
  5. All other residents of WCCUSD
  6. All other applicants

*Priority #2 applies only to full-time staff and faculty who, by December of their second year, will have been full-time employees of MWA for at least 12 months.

MWA makes every attempt to accommodate siblings who apply together in the same school year. A separate enrollment application must be submitted for each student.

Grades Served
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
School Hours
Mon - Thurs: 8:30am - 3:35pm | Fri: 8:30am - 2:30pm
After Care
Mon - Fri: until 6pm (middle school); until 5:30pm (upper school)
Before Care
8:00a - 8:30a
Public Transportation
AC Transit: LA, LC, 72, 74, 76, 376
Uniforms
Yes
Principal
Dr. Evangelia Ward-Jackson

By the Numbers

Total Enrollment
1084
Race/Ethnicity
2% Asian
7% Black/African-American
86% Latino/Hispanic
1% White
4% Other
Suspension Rate: 9.8%
Chronic Absenteeism Rate: 63.7%
Graduation Rate: 87%
UC/CSU Eligibility: 100%

Special Education

Economically Disadvantaged

English Language Learners

Academic Comparison

Average academic scores (SBAC) for grades tested compared to the public school average score (district and charter) for the same grades.

English Scores
45%
40%
Math Scores
22%
18%
Academic Performance
English Language Arts
26%
29%
32%
13%
Math
50%
29%
15%
6%

This school profile includes data available through CA Department of Education (CDE) or other sources. Due to the pandemic and resulting changes, data is released for multiple school years: Student / school demographic data, Graduation Rate, Chronic Absenteeism Rate, Suspension Rate, Academic Comparison, and Academic Performance are from the 2022-23 academic yearUC/CSU Eligibility data are from 2020-21. Some data is reported by schools to provide more up-to-date information and may differ from published CDE data.

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Making Waves Academy