Summary:
Detroit Premier Academy is a single K-8 charter elementary school in urban Detroit, serving 706 students with a very high-poverty population (90.79% free/reduced lunch) and a 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio.
This school faces severe academic challenges, with proficiency rates far below state averages in nearly every subject and grade. The most critical weakness is math in the upper elementary grades: only 7.1% of 4th graders and 8.3% of 5th graders are proficient, compared to state averages near 39% and 32% respectively. Fifth grade social studies is the single lowest score at just 3.6% proficiency. The school's overall state ranking has declined from the 14th percentile (2024-25) to the 9th percentile (2025-26), and its star rating dropped from 1 star to 0 stars. A major factor is chronic absenteeism—64.3% of students are chronically absent, more than double the state average of 27.9%, which likely undermines all instructional efforts.
There are a few relative bright spots worth noting. Eighth graders show the strongest performance, particularly on the PSAT where math proficiency (28.4%) is within just 4.8 points of the state average—the smallest gap of any subject or grade. Eighth grade social studies improved dramatically from 14.5% to 29.3% proficiency year-over-year. However, scores are highly volatile across years, with several grades dropping 11-13 points in ELA between 2024-25 and 2025-26. The school spends $14,134 per student, above average, yet outcomes remain very low, suggesting resources alone aren't solving the deep challenges tied to poverty and attendance. For parents, this school shows some late-elementary/middle school progress for students who stay enrolled, but the early elementary years and chronic absenteeism are serious concerns that need urgent attention.
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