High Schools in Flint School District of the City of

The three high schools serving grades 9-12 in the Flint School District of the City of—Southwestern Classical Academy, Accelerated Learning Academy, and Gateway to CollegeMott Community College—serve a total of 619 students in a district ranked in the 2nd percentile statewide, reflecting profound challenges tied to extreme economic disadvantage and a district-wide crisis of student engagement.

Among the three, Southwestern Classical Academy is the largest (464 students) and most traditional, with the best—though still critically low—outcomes: a 70.5% graduation rate, 17.8% dropout rate, and 90.7% chronic absenteeism. It also spends the most per student ($32,618) and has the lowest student-to-teacher ratio (16.1). In contrast, Accelerated Learning Academy (126 students) shows a 34.9% graduation rate and a staggering 93.7% chronic absenteeism rate, while Gateway to CollegeMott Community College (29 students) has the most extreme outcomes: a 12.5% graduation rate and a 50% dropout rate, despite having the lowest share of students on free/reduced lunch (62%) and the lowest per-student spending ($9,577).

Key takeaways for parents: chronic absenteeism above 90% at two schools makes academic success nearly impossible, and the alternative programs designed for higher-need students are not overcoming those challenges. Spending does not correlate with success—Southwestern spends three times more per student than Gateway, yet both remain far below state averages (84% graduation, 27.9% chronic absenteeism). The district-wide graduation rate of 52.3% and dropout rate of 24.7% signal a system in emergency, where poverty and disengagement overshadow classroom instruction. Parents should weigh each school’s specific structure and support services carefully, as the data shows no school here approaches state benchmarks.