Making Waves Academy: College Prep High School in Richmond (2026 List)

About Making Waves Academy

Making Waves Academy is a public charter high school in Richmond, California, for students in grades 9–12. There are about 1,000 students at Making Waves Academy, and there is one teacher for every 16 students. The school offers honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes as part of its college-preparatory curriculum. It also provides extra time for learning, tutoring, and programs that help students learn more. Students can also get college counseling, mentoring, and activities outside of school that help them do well in school and become better people. The school puts a lot of emphasis on inclusion and representation, and the student body is a positive mix of people from the Richmond area. About 21% of students are good at math, and about 39% are good at reading. Students may also take standardized tests like the SAT as part of their college readiness pathway. Families exploring options like the best high school in California may consider Making Waves Academy for its supportive environment and focus on college access.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 21%

Reading 39%

State average proficiency is 21% in Math and 39% in Reading.

67

Full-time Teachers

16 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

40

Teachers In First Or Second Year (yrs)

1103

Total Students

$58409

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 1.27%

Asian 3.45%

Hispanic 86.49%

Black 7.52%

Two+ Races 1%

Native Am. 0.27%

White

1.27%

Asian

3.45%

Hispanic

86.49%

Black

7.52%

Two+ Races

1%

Native Am.

0.27%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 1103

51.22%

565 Female

48.78%

538 Male

Student Population

1103 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 16 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

1084 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Making Waves Academy Contact Information

Address

4123 Lakeside Dr., Richmond, CA, 94806

View on Map

Phone

(510) 262-1511

Call Now

Website

http://www.makingwavesacademy.org

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:45 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Making Waves Academy in Richmond, California, recently talked about how well students do in college-preparatory programs. School leaders stressed the importance of tough academics, mentoring, and extra-curricular activities that help students gain the skills and confidence they need to do well in college and in their future jobs.

FAQ

Q1. What does Making Waves Academy want to do?

Ans. Through programs that help students grow academically and personally, the school wants to help them get into and do well in college.

Q2. Does Making Waves Academy give students extra time to learn?

Ans. Yes, the school has longer school days and extra help with schoolwork.

Q3. Do you offer Advanced Placement (AP) classes?

Ans. Yes, students can take AP and honors classes.

Q4. Does the school help students get into college?

Ans. Yes, students get help with their college applications and advice on how to get into college.

Q5. Does the school have activities that aren't part of the school day?

Ans. Yes, students can join clubs, play sports, and take part in enrichment programs.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

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What Parents Say