Covenant High School Southwest

Covenant High School Southwest is a small public high school in Detroit, MI, serving 164 students in grades 9-12 within the Covenant Schools Detroit district, where nearly all students (97%) come from economically disadvantaged households.

The most urgent concern for parents is the school's catastrophic graduation crisis. Only 12% of students graduated in 2024-2025—a staggering 72 points below the state average—and the dropout rate stands at 47.2%, meaning nearly half of all students leave before earning a diploma. This isn't a recent dip; graduation rates have hovered between 1.1% and 12% for five straight years. Chronic absenteeism affects 78.4% of students, roughly three times the state rate. While the sister school, Covenant High School Central, faces similar struggles, Southwest's numbers are slightly better on several measures. The contrast with nearby Cass Technical High School—just 1.78 miles away with a 97.6% graduation rate—highlights the extreme inequality within Detroit's educational landscape.

Interestingly, the students who do stay enrolled appear to be learning. Test scores at Covenant Southwest are competitive with—and sometimes better than—larger, better-funded schools. For example, 25% of 11th graders scored proficient on SAT reading/writing, exceeding Western International High School's 16.5% despite Western having a 76.6% graduation rate. The school spends $11,908 per student, less than most nearby schools, yet achieves comparable academic results. This suggests the core problem isn't instruction but student retention and engagement. Parents considering this school should understand that while academics may be adequate for those who attend consistently, the overwhelming majority of students are not staying through graduation—a pattern demanding urgent intervention focused on support services and keeping students connected to school.