Summary:
University Prep Science and Math High School is the sole high school in the University Preparatory Science and Math (PSAD) district, serving grades 9-12 in Detroit, MI, with 452 students.
This single public charter school presents a striking paradox: it graduates students at a very high rate (94.8% vs. 84.0% statewide) while its students score far below state averages on every academic assessment. For example, only 4.76% of 11th graders are proficient in science (state: 35.2%), and just 8.3% are proficient in SAT math (state: 27.5%). The school’s state ranking is in the bottom 10% of Michigan high schools, having dropped from the 13th percentile in 2024-2025 to the 8th percentile in 2025-2026. This decline is reflected in test scores that fell dramatically year-over-year—11th-grade science proficiency dropped from 15% to 4.76%, and SAT reading/writing proficiency was cut in half from 33.3% to 16.7%.
Mathematics is the most critical weakness, with only 4.5% of 9th graders and 6.6% of 10th graders proficient on the PSAT math exam—a particularly concerning finding for a school named “Science and Math.” The school serves a high-poverty population (68.14% eligible for free/reduced lunch) and spends $14,612 per student, yet this funding does not appear to translate into academic gains. Chronic absenteeism (29.0%) is slightly above the state average (27.9%). The disconnect between a 94.8% graduation rate and such low proficiency rates suggests students may be advancing without mastering core academic skills, raising important questions about the rigor of the curriculum and the value of the diploma earned here. For parents, this school offers strong persistence to graduation but significant academic challenges that require careful consideration.
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