David Ellis Academy

David Ellis Academy is a small, public school academy in Detroit, MI, serving 206 students in grades PK through 12, where nearly all students (about 93%) come from economically disadvantaged households.

If you're looking at this school, the most exciting news is in middle school English. In the most recent testing year, 7th graders hit a 60% proficiency rate on the state ELA test—far above the state average of 38.4% and beating nearby alternatives like Michigan Virtual Charter Academy (13.4%) and University Yes Academy (20%). Eighth graders have also consistently scored well above state averages on the PSAT ELA in recent years. This suggests a real strength in reading and writing instruction at the middle school level. However, math scores lag noticeably behind ELA across most grades—a key area to ask about if you visit. Also, keep in mind that with such a small student body, scores can swing dramatically from year to year, so one strong or weak class can shift the whole picture.

On the practical side, the school invests heavily in its students. It spends about $15,930 per student and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.2—meaning smaller class sizes than many peers like Michigan Virtual Charter Academy (19.6) or University Yes Academy (20.4). Chronic absenteeism, while still high at 38%, is notably better than several comparable schools in the area, such as NOVA Discipline Academy (85.9%) or Edison (73.9%). For context, a nearby high-performing alternative, AGBU AlexMarie Manoogian School, has a 100% graduation rate and much lower absenteeism, but it serves a less economically challenged population. Overall, David Ellis Academy offers strong middle school literacy and smaller classes, but families should weigh the math performance and year-to-year variability carefully.