Summary:
Detroit Enterprise Academy is a single K-8 school in Detroit serving about 686 students, where nearly 89% qualify for free or reduced lunch and chronic absenteeism runs at 58.8%—more than double the state average. The school operates as its own district, Detroit Enterprise Academy, which ranks 430th out of 625 Michigan districts with a 2-star rating.
Despite the challenges, the school shows real bright spots. The most impressive is 8th grade PSAT math, where 38.2% of students scored proficient in 2025-2026—actually beating the state average of 33.2%. That’s a rare feat for a school with this level of poverty and absenteeism, and it suggests the middle school math program is doing something right. Fifth grade ELA also jumped dramatically, from 27.3% to 38.7% proficiency in one year, though it still trails the state’s 43.8%. Overall, the school improved in 12 of 16 tested areas in the most recent year, recovering from a dip in 2024-2025 when its ranking fell to the 24th percentile. It now sits at the 29th percentile, still below its 2023-2024 peak but moving in the right direction.
Performance is uneven across grades and subjects. Fourth grade math dropped sharply from 31.5% to 18.5%, while 5th grade social studies sits at just 12% proficiency versus a 27.5% state average—the school’s weakest area. Chronic absenteeism is the biggest barrier; with nearly 6 in 10 students missing too much school, it’s remarkable that some grades approach state averages. When kids show up, they often perform competitively, which points to attendance as the highest-leverage fix. The school spends $14,595 per student, above many districts, yet outcomes lag—so money alone isn’t the answer. If the current momentum holds, especially in ELA and science, Detroit Enterprise Academy could close more gaps within a few years.
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