Hamilton Community Schools
What sets Hamilton Community Schools (HCS) apart in Michigan is the word "community." Unique in its composition, the Hamilton area is not an incorporated city with a governing council; rather, it is a place where seven townships converge. For generations, the school district has served as the enduring, unifying force for this community. HCS proudly delivers diverse and personalized learning options to over 2,900 students, spanning from pre-kindergarten through early college within the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District.
The district's mission is to ensure that every child succeeds in their chosen path by offering multiple programs and delivery options, including preschool, three elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and a virtual school. This commitment to educational excellence is recognized throughout the state and nationally. Hamilton Elementary was named a 2025 Blue Ribbon School, and HCS has received distinction from U.S. News & World Report for all of its traditional schools. Also in 2025, Bentheim Elementary Principal Jared Randall received MEMSPA’s Region 9 Principal of the Year award.
HCS's Vision
The Hamilton Community Schools’ District Focus Plan guides all the work in the district. Their vision, mission, and district goals were developed by the Board of Education to align with the plan. Hamilton partners with the community to provide each student with individualized instruction, which allows them to explore their interests, link their learning to the real world, and build the academic, social, and career skills they need to be lifelong learners.
Dr. Brad Lusk began his role as district superintendent in 2022. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, Master's and Specialist degrees from Grand Valley State University, and a Doctorate from Eastern Michigan University. Before coming to Hamilton, Brad held teaching and administrative roles at Grandville High School and was principal at Fowlerville High School for 10 years. As he leads this innovative district, his focus is on sustainability and community so that all will succeed long into the future.
Students in Hamilton can choose from in-person, online, or a combination of both to meet their needs. The Hamilton-Traditional learning option meets daily in the school buildings. Personalization in this option allows students to go deeper into topics as the teacher leads the pace through the units. For students who want to work independently through a full schedule of online classes, Hamilton Virtual is available, with optional in-person electives. Project-based learning is embedded into all learning options. Counselors and administrators help students and families choose the format that is right for them.
The middle school has been using standards-based grading (SBG) since the 2014-15 school year to help students concentrate on learning. SBG focuses on a student’s understanding of a standard or topic rather than a letter grade, which can include attendance or extra credit. Student progress in each standard is recorded in PowerSchool using a scale of 1-4, where 4 represents mastery of the standard, and 1 indicates minimal progress.
HCS also utilizes a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) model from K-12 to ensure students receive appropriate reading and math instruction. In grades K-6, all students receive universal instruction in Tier 1; however, during a daily 30-minute MTSS time, students move into assigned groups based on screening data for either intervention support or enrichment activities. Tier 2 intervention, provided by an interventionist or teacher in groups of up to eight, focuses on reteaching and practice. Those needing more intensive, individualized support meet more frequently in smaller groups with a certified teacher. Student progress is continuously monitored, and groups are reassigned three times a year following universal screening. K-4 students have the flexibility to exit a group quickly upon meeting their goals. At the secondary level, students in grades 7 and 8 receive support or enrichment during their advisory period, while the high school developed targeted elective courses: Hawkeye Prep for 9th graders and Hawkeye Success for 10th graders. These high school classes help academically struggling students build relationships, academic skills, and a foundation that will help them become independent learners.
Discovery Learning Outside the School Walls
The Hawkeye Preschool program is a play-based, exploratory, comprehensive preschool that is GSRP five-star rated. Located at Sandyview Learning Center, students have the opportunity to learn through observing, experimenting, and asking questions while experiencing nature. The program structure includes many opportunities for children to be outdoors, where they learn new skills through exploration and discovery. Research shows additional benefits to learning outdoors include increased health and whole child well-being, environmental awareness, and a sense of place.
The district partners with the Outdoor Discovery Center and other partners in the greater Holland area for outdoor field trips and an extension of classroom learning. All students in 8th grade extend their classroom learning with a semester in STREAM School. These unforgettable experiences keep students engaged in English and Science standards through hands-on projects tied to Lake Michigan, dunes, and wetlands. They also connect students to the Agriscience and Natural Resources pathway.
Work Based Learning
Hamilton Community Schools is intentionally using Work Based Learning (WBL) as a way to personalize learning for all students. Through a variety of activities and options, students become aware of, explore, prepare, and train for careers. The district’s comprehensive WBL program encourages students to explore various career pathways, which culminate in a WBL requirement for graduation.
Learners in grades 5-12 have access to an interactive work-based learning document. The document includes descriptions, how to sign up, what completion looks like, how their attendance is verified, and additional resources. Experiences and activities are offered during and outside of the school day. A key on the work based learning document helps students choose their experiences based on their interests.
Grades 5-9 engage in required activities that help them become aware of careers and, in some cases, explore or prepare for them. Each grade level focuses on a different high-wage, high-demand pathway so that students have background knowledge prior to preparing and training for a career in 10th-12th grades. Ninth through twelfth-grade students broaden their learning around careers and opportunities and start connecting to their interests through a variety of more in-depth activities, including Careerline Tech Center courses, cultural trips with classes, meetings with military or college recruiters, college visits, workplace tours, job shadowing, interviews, volunteer experiences, and military or agricultural exploration. Students graduating in 2027 and beyond must complete two preparation activities and one training activity to graduate.
One WBL training activity is the Future PREP'd Academy, an after-school program where 9th-12th-grade students collaborate with students from other schools to develop innovative solutions for local business challenges. For students pursuing high-demand fields, Hamilton provides pathways in the trades, like a new Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program. In partnership with a local trucking company, students can earn their CDL before graduation, with local companies providing donations so that students in the program are only responsible for paying $1,000 to receive their CDL. This certification has led to students being offered hiring opportunities; so far, eight students have successfully participated. Other preparatory programs are available in fields such as HVAC and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
HCS also provides extensive opportunities for post-secondary academic and career acceleration. Students can enroll in the South Ottawa Early College Program in partnership with the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District (OAISD) and Muskegon Community College, which allows them to earn their high school diploma and up to 62 college credits or an Associate’s Degree for free. HCS has also established an Early Middle College partnership with Hope College specifically for students interested in the teaching profession, demonstrating a commitment to supporting diverse career aspirations. These comprehensive, specialized options ensure that all students can meet the WBL graduation requirement through experiences that directly align with their personal interests and career goals.
Hamilton Virtual School
The Hamilton Virtual School (HVS) offers a comprehensive and flexible educational experience for K-12 students residing in the district or enrolling through Schools of Choice. Students can choose between full-time virtual, full-time hybrid, or part-time enrollment to best meet their academic and lifestyle needs.
Full-time virtual students complete all core and elective courses necessary to meet graduation requirements, receive a diploma, and are eligible to participate in the district’s graduation ceremony. Approximately 10 to 20 students per high school grade level enroll in full-time virtual studies, often utilizing the flexibility, such as taking English 12 A and B concurrently, to facilitate early graduation.
The hybrid option is a preferred choice among K-8 students. Using the BookShark curriculum, full-time hybrid students work on their virtual courses from home on Mondays and Wednesdays, then attend campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Part-time students focus solely on non-core (elective) courses such as physical education, music, art, and STEM, attending campus on Tuesdays through Thursdays. The in-person days in the building attract approximately 300 students from HVS and its related programs. Hybrid students attend BookShark meetings in the morning, then, alongside part-time students, spend afternoons participating in elective courses, receiving in-person interventions, or attending tutoring sessions (which are available Tuesday through Thursday). Virtual interventions are provided all week long. Due to sustained interest, the part-time program usually has a waitlist.
Unique hands-on learning options are offered through kit classes and project-based learning (PBL) courses. Kit classes, paced with specific due dates, use physical kits from companies like CrunchLabs, Clever Poppy, and STEM Kiwi Co. to supplement the virtual curriculum. Students can also pursue PBL courses within the community. Enrollment in these specialized courses is structured by grade band for part-time students:
- Grades K-5: May take two PBL or kit classes and one campus core course.
- Grades 6-12: May take two PBL or kit classes and one whole campus day.
Like the rest of the district, Canvas is the main learning management system. Certified teachers create engaging, original activity- or project-based content and assessments. Students also access courses through external partners like Lincoln Learning, Edmentum, and Michigan Virtual (including AP courses). For advanced learners, options include dual enrollment through more than eight colleges or Careerline Tech Center classes via the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District.
At Hamilton Virtual, every learner is required to have a learning coach at home to supervise their online education. The program benefits from low teacher turnover, with many certified teachers and mentors having served for over six years. Staff members highly value the variety of courses, flexibility, and the mixed-age student environment where older students often mentor younger ones. This flexibility also allows teachers to instruct in other Hamilton programs, both in-person and online.
Outside of academics, HVS students can enrich their experience by participating in district extracurricular activities like theater and band. The virtual program employs a full-time school psychologist and shares a counselor, ensuring student well-being and academic guidance.
Currently, HVS shares the Sandyview Learning Center with the Hawkeye Preschool. In the 2026-27 school year, HVS is scheduled to relocate to a newly renovated building. This move will allow the Early Learners program to expand within the Sandyview facility and provide the needed space for Hamilton Virtual.
Hamilton Community Schools is dedicated to providing a personalized and community-driven educational experience that prepares every student for their unique future. From the innovative Hamilton Virtual School, offering flexible hybrid and virtual pathways, to the robust Work-Based Learning program that includes partnerships for early college, CDL training, and Future PREP'd Academy, HCS ensures learners are equipped with the academics, skills, and real-world exposure needed for success. By operating as the unifying heart of the three townships it serves, HCS continues to embody its mission: fostering a supportive environment where all students are equipped to succeed and pursue their purpose after graduation.