Old Redford Academy

Old Redford Academy is a small charter district in Detroit, Michigan, serving roughly 957 students across three schools—Old Redford Academy Elementary (PK-4), Old Redford Academy Middle School (5-8), and Old Redford Academy High (9-12)—in a high-poverty area where 78-85% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Among the three, Old Redford Academy Middle School stands out as the relative bright spot. It holds the district’s highest state percentile ranking (8th) and has shown steady year-over-year improvement, climbing from the 4th to the 8th percentile since 2023. Its 8th grade social studies proficiency (25.7%) is more than double the high school’s rate, and its 8th grade PSAT ELA (21.4%) outpaces the high school’s 9th grade score (17%). In contrast, Old Redford Academy High presents the most concerning profile: an 88.1% chronic absenteeism rate, a 16.6% dropout rate (more than double the state’s 7.1%), and SAT reading proficiency at just 9.5% versus 52.1% statewide. Old Redford Academy Elementary sets a low foundation, with 3rd grade ELA proficiency at only 5.8%.

Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide crisis, ranging from 62.5% at the elementary to 88.1% at the high school—far above the state’s 27.9%. Despite per-student spending of $15,449-$17,021 (above state averages), outcomes remain critically low, suggesting resource levels aren’t the primary issue. The high school’s 31.1:1 student-teacher ratio is especially alarming compared to the elementary’s 18.9:1. A troubling pattern emerges: students fall further behind as they advance, with proficiency declining from middle school to high school. However, the middle school’s recent gains—7th grade ELA jumping from 6.9% to 13.3% and 8th grade social studies from 9.9% to 25.7%—offer a glimmer that targeted interventions can work, even amid systemic challenges.