PATHWAYS
High School

Pathways High School

Pathways High School offers a personalized learning environment for students who benefit from a smaller setting and a flexible approach to achieving their high school diploma. At Pathways, we focus on helping students discover their purpose, explore their passions, and build a meaningful path beyond high school.

Students complete coursework through an online learning platform while working closely with Pathways teachers who provide instruction, guidance, and individualized support. This structure allows students to progress at a pace that meets their needs while remaining connected to caring adults who are committed to helping them succeed both academically and personally.

Pathways is located on the Kenowa Hills Middle School campus in a dedicated wing designed to provide a focused high school learning environment. Students have access to Kenowa Hills transportation services and receive breakfast and lunch free of charge each day.

Because every student’s journey is unique, Pathways provides opportunities for students to gradually develop greater independence in how they manage their learning. As students demonstrate consistent progress in their courses and remain on track toward graduation, they may be considered for increased flexibility in their schedule. These decisions are made on an individual basis and are designed to support each student’s success while helping them build the responsibility and independence needed for life after high school.

Students at Pathways complete 19 credits to graduate, including the Michigan Merit Curriculum and a credit in employability skills that helps prepare them for success in college, career, and life. Pathways celebrates the accomplishments of its graduates with its own graduation ceremony, and students earn a Michigan high school diploma that opens the door to any post-secondary opportunity they choose to pursue.

Cathy Capy-Cantu
Principal, Pathways High School
3950 Hendershot Ave NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49544
616-498-8059 (cell)
616-965-4036 ext: 7407
ccapycantu@khps.org 

See the KH Pathways High School 2025-26 Annual Education Report

 

Pathways High School News
 

May 20, 2025

 

From One Credit to Graduation Speaker

When Christian arrived at Pathways High School as a junior, he had just one high school credit, a 0.4 GPA, and no real belief in a future. “I was almost not completing any work in a day,” he shared. “All I could think about was how bad my future was going to be.”

But inside the walls of Pathways, something started to shift. He found teachers who didn’t look at his transcript and see failure—they saw potential. “I found genuine teachers that care about students’ credits and the time they need to get them,” Christian said. “It was a very welcoming environment.”

This deeply personal approach is what defines Pathways. “The most important thing for our students when they start here is for them to feel like they can be successful,” said Pathways Interim Principal Cathy Capy-Cantu. “We want them to be happy, healthy, and to find their passion and purpose for their future.”

Christian’s turning point came when a counselor helped him connect with the West Michigan Construction Institute (WMCI). There, he discovered not just a trade, but a sense of direction. After completing core construction training, he found a passion for rough carpentry—a perfect fit for a student who had grown up helping his dad with concrete work.

“My experience at WMCI pushed me through a lot of trades,” Christian said. “Rough carpentry was my thing—a hard work ethic while also being professional at all times. It really gave me an opportunity to find what I would love to do.”

That clarity fueled a complete transformation. According to Capy-Cantu, even in just a short time, Christian’s maturity stood out. “What impressed me was how he carried himself—how he talked to other students who weren’t making the best choices, and how he ‘locked in,’ as he would say, once he found his future through WMCI.”

Now, Christian is preparing to graduate early—a remarkable achievement on its own. But he’s also speaking at two graduation ceremonies: one at WMCI and one at Pathways. For a student whose family members never completed high school, the significance isn’t lost on him. “It really means a lot to me,” he said. “They saw the opportunity and loved seeing me accomplish it.”

Christian’s success is a powerful reflection of the mission of Pathways: to meet students where they are, without judgment, and walk alongside them as they rebuild belief in themselves. “Our staff builds meaningful relationships at every level,” Capy-Cantu shared. “Teachers who understand individual learning needs, a counselor who serves as both a guide and advocate—it’s a whole-school commitment to truly knowing each student.”

That commitment is what makes stories like Christian’s possible.

“For any student who’s struggling like I was,” Christian said, “I’d tell them that Pathways won’t give up on you. No matter how bad it gets, the teachers will always have a positive attitude toward pushing you to succeed.”

From a 0.4 GPA to a graduation stage, from feeling hopeless to becoming a role model—Christian’s journey is a testament to what can happen when belief, support, and opportunity come together.

At Pathways, every student is seen, supported, and given the space to thrive—and Christian’s story is proof that success can start from anywhere. 

More About Pathways High School

One of the goals of Pathways is to provide students with more flexibility in scheduling options while still maintaining a structured environment for maximum student support in their transition to additional independence.