Summary:
Global Heights Academy is the only school in this analysis, serving grades PK-8 in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, with 274 students and operating as its own single-school district, Global Heights Academy.
This school faces severe academic challenges. In the most recent testing year, proficiency rates were dramatically below state averages across every subject and grade. For example, only 7.32% of 3rd graders were proficient in math (compared to 42.9% statewide), and just 9.68% of 5th graders were proficient in science (state: 40.0%). The 8th-grade PSAT ELA score was 27.3% versus 64.8% statewide—a gap of 37.5 points. No subject exceeded 28% proficiency. Year-over-year data shows no improvement; in fact, several grades declined, such as 5th-grade ELA dropping from 13.9% to 9.68%. The school has ranked in the bottom 5-6% of Michigan schools for three consecutive years, earning zero stars each time.
Compounding these academic struggles is an extreme poverty concentration—94.53% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. The school spends $15,285 per student, which is above the typical Michigan average, yet outcomes remain critically low, suggesting funding alone is not solving the problem. Chronic absenteeism was reported at a relatively low 7.2% in 2023-2024, but data for 2024-2025 is missing, making it impossible to verify trends. With only 274 students spread across grades PK-8, each grade has roughly 20-35 students, meaning test scores can fluctuate significantly year to year. For parents, this school is a high-need environment where poverty is pervasive, academic performance is stagnant or declining, and despite above-average spending, there is no evidence of effective intervention taking hold. A comprehensive, systemic approach—including targeted literacy and math programs, expanded support services, and a review of resource allocation—would be essential to change this trajectory.
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