Detroit Public Schools Community District

The Detroit Public Schools Community District encompasses 100 schools, including 68 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 22 high schools, and 5 alternative schools. The district faces significant challenges, with many schools struggling to meet academic benchmarks, but also highlights pockets of excellence that provide hope for improvement.

A few standout schools within the district include Cass Technical High School, which ranks 185 out of 743 Michigan high schools and boasts a 98.4% graduation rate, as well as Renaissance High School and Bates Academy, which also demonstrate strong academic performance. These schools provide models for other schools to emulate, showing that high achievement is possible within the district.

However, the district as a whole faces significant challenges, including low graduation rates, poor standardized test scores, and extremely high rates of chronic absenteeism. Racial disparities are also evident, with many schools having overwhelmingly African American student populations. Addressing these complex issues of equity, resources, and student engagement will be critical to driving progress across the Detroit Public Schools Community District.