Dove Academy of Detroit

Dove Academy of Detroit is a single charter elementary school (PK-8) in Detroit, Michigan, serving 487 students within the Dove Academy of Detroit district, where 86% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch.

This school faces severe academic challenges, consistently ranking in the bottom 10% of Michigan schools for three straight years and holding a zero-star rating. Proficiency rates are dramatically below state averages across nearly every subject and grade. For example, only 6.12% of 3rd graders and 5.36% of 4th graders are proficient in math—a staggering 36-37 percentage point gap compared to the state. Reading scores are similarly low, with 5th grade ELA proficiency at just 8.89% versus the state's 43.8%. The school also struggles with a chronic absenteeism rate of 46.8%, nearly double the state average, which likely compounds learning loss. Despite spending a substantial $13,553 per student, outcomes remain poor, suggesting that poverty and attendance issues are major barriers that funding alone cannot overcome.

There are a few bright spots worth noting. The 8th grade PSAT ELA score of 36% is the school's strongest result, significantly outpacing its other subjects and grades—possibly pointing to an effective middle school ELA program. Additionally, 4th grade ELA improved from 8.51% to 19.6% year-over-year, and the school's overall percentile ranking has inched up from 6th to 10th over three years, hinting at small but real progress. However, performance is highly inconsistent across grade levels, with 6th grade math (17%) tripling 3rd grade math, suggesting teacher or cohort variability. For parents, the picture is clear: this school is in crisis mode, particularly in early-grade math and attendance, though pockets of relative strength in middle school reading offer a potential foundation to build upon.