David Ellis Academy

David Ellis Academy is an alternative public charter school in Detroit, Michigan, serving 215 students in grades PK-12. The school has a high percentage of students from low-income families, with 85-90% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch.

While David Ellis Academy's spending per student is higher than the state average, the school faces significant challenges. It has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 29.5% to 33.3%, which is much higher than the state average of around 20%. Academically, the school's proficiency rates on state assessments are generally lower than the state averages across various grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's projected proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math are well below the state levels, with some grades performing at less than half the state average.

When comparing David Ellis Academy to nearby alternative schools, such as Michigan Virtual Charter Academy and AGBU AlexMarie Manoogian School, the data suggests that these other schools are outperforming David Ellis Academy in areas like graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, and academic proficiency. Even some nearby traditional public schools, like Webb Elementary School and The School at Marygrove, tend to have higher academic proficiency rates than David Ellis Academy. Addressing the school's challenges and learning from the successes of other alternative schools in the area could be crucial in improving student outcomes at David Ellis Academy.