The Dearborn Academy

The Dearborn Academy is a public school in Dearborn, MI, serving 518 students in grades Pre-K through 8th grade, and operates as its own single-school district. The school serves a highly economically disadvantaged population, with over 94% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

Academically, The Dearborn Academy is performing well below state averages across most subjects and grade levels, ranking in the bottom 13th percentile statewide. This places it lower than many nearby schools in the Dearborn City School District, such as Maples Elementary School (53rd percentile) and River Oaks Elementary School (47th percentile). However, its performance is more in line with struggling schools in the Detroit Public Schools Community District, like Dixon Elementary School and Carver STEM Academy, both ranking in the 3rd percentile. One notable bright spot: 7th-grade students achieved a 33.3% proficiency rate in English Language Arts—nearly double the rate of other grades at the school and close to the state average. This suggests something may be working well for that particular group of students.

The school spends $18,563 per student, which is higher than several nearby schools that achieve much better results. For example, Maples Elementary School spends a comparable $18,549 but ranks significantly higher academically. Chronic absenteeism is a concern at 33.1%, though it is notably lower than the rates at nearby Detroit schools like Carver STEM Academy (72.7%) and Dixon Elementary School (81.3%). There is also a pattern of declining performance as students advance, particularly in math, which drops from 15.5% proficiency in 3rd grade to just 7% in 6th grade. For parents, this school may require extra attention and support at home, especially in the upper grades.