Trix Academy

Trix Academy is a PK-8 charter school in Detroit, MI, serving 302 students within the Michigan Educational Choice Center district, where every single student qualifies for free or reduced lunch—a reflection of the high level of economic need in the surrounding community.

The biggest challenge facing Trix Academy is chronic absenteeism. In the 2024-2025 school year, a staggering 74.5% of students were chronically absent—nearly three times the state average of 27.9%. This rate is higher than nearby schools like Regent Park Scholars Charter Academy (58.6%) and Academy of Warren (57.8%), though lower than Brewer Academy (84.1%) and Brenda Scott Academy for Theatre Arts (80.9%). When students aren't in class, they can't benefit from instruction, and this likely explains much of the school's low academic performance—it ranks in the 8th percentile statewide. There is also a notable funding gap: Trix Academy spends about $13,775 per student, far less than Detroit Public Schools Community District schools like Pulaski ElementaryMiddle School ($23,009) or Fisher Magnet Academy ($22,419), despite serving a student body with even higher poverty rates.

Despite these challenges, there are a few bright spots. In 3rd grade math, 27.5% of students were proficient in 2025-2026—well above nearby schools like Lincoln Elementary School (14.3%) and Brewer Academy (13.6%). The school also performs relatively better for its African American students, ranking in the 24th percentile for that subgroup compared to its overall 8th percentile. However, test scores vary widely by grade—4th grade math drops to just 11.4% proficiency—suggesting inconsistent instruction across the school. While the school's state ranking has held steady at 8% for two years, that's a slight improvement from the 6th percentile in 2017-2018, offering a glimmer of incremental progress in a very difficult environment.