Detroit Service Learning Academy

The Detroit Service Learning Academy district is a network of three PK-8 charter elementary schools serving 1,504 students across Detroit, Redford, and Oak Park, Michigan, where nearly all students come from low-income households and academic performance ranks in the 3rd percentile statewide.

If you're comparing schools in this network, Redford Service Learning Academy Campus is clearly the standout. It's the only campus earning a 1-star rating, and its early-grade results are dramatically stronger than the others—3rd grade math proficiency hits 20.8% and 3rd grade ELA hits 18.8%, both more than double the district average. Redford also shows consistent year-over-year improvement, climbing from the 6th to 14th percentile. Meanwhile, Oak Park Service Learning Academy (OPSLA) is the smallest campus but has a major strength: its chronic absenteeism rate is just 27.1%, nearly matching the state average and far better than the district's 53.5%. OPSLA also posted a strong 50% proficiency rate in 8th grade PSAT ELA. The flagship Detroit Service Learning Academy Campus is the largest but most challenged, ranking in the 1st percentile for three straight years with 60.3% chronic absenteeism and only 5.3% of 3rd graders proficient in ELA.

Across the network, a clear pattern emerges: attendance and early-grade success drive outcomes. OPSLA's near-state-average attendance shows that progress is possible even in high-poverty settings, while Redford's early-grade results suggest effective literacy and numeracy programs worth replicating. Notably, the Detroit campus spends the most per student ($16,803) yet achieves the least, while Redford's middle-ground spending yields the best results. All schools struggle with declining performance as students advance—5th to 6th grade is a particularly steep drop-off—and scores swing dramatically year to year. While the district faces serious challenges, Redford's steady improvement and OPSLA's attendance success offer genuine hope for families seeking bright spots in this network.