The Riverside Academy West, opened in 2005, is a charter school that is authorized by Global Educational Excellence and chartered by Central Michigan University. It organizes a variety of extracurricular activities, such as musical concerts, field trips, art exhibitions, dance competitions, fall festivals and book fairs. The Riverside Academy West offers academic classes to more than 385 students in grades 6 through 11. The academy employs a staff of over 20 full-time, certified teachers, paraprofessionals, assessment coordinators, athletic directors and guidance counselors. Located in Dearborn, Mich., the Riverside Academy West s core curriculum includes math, language arts, science, social studies, art and physical education.