Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Bates Academy

Public Grades PK, KG-8

142^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 Michigan Elementary Schools

Better than 90% of Michigan elementary schools

Summary

Bates Academy is a public PK-8 school in Detroit, MI, serving 773 students within the Detroit Public Schools Community District, where it stands out as a remarkable academic success story despite the district's overall challenges.

For parents, the most important takeaway is that Bates Academy delivers exceptional results for its students. The school holds a 5-star rating and ranks in the 90th percentile statewide, a dramatic contrast to its home district, which ranks in the bottom 13% of Michigan. This isn't a case of a few high performers skewing the numbers—proficiency rates are strong across every grade level, from 3rd grade ELA at 58.8% to 7th grade ELA at 79.1%. In fact, Bates Academy often outperforms nearby schools by 3 to 10 times. For example, 4th grade ELA proficiency is 77.2%, while Bagley Elementary School of Journalism and Technology sits at just 6.8% and Pasteur Elementary School at 6.8%. The school also excels for specific student groups, ranking in the 99th percentile statewide for African American students and the 98th percentile for students from low-income households, proving that demographics don't dictate outcomes. Attendance is another strength, with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 15% compared to over 54% at several neighboring schools like Vernor Elementary School.

What makes this even more impressive is that Bates Academy achieves these results with larger class sizes (18.3 student-teacher ratio) and lower per-student spending ($19,706) than many of its less successful peers. The school has shown a steady upward trajectory, climbing from the 56th percentile in 2021-2022 to its current 5-star status. While 8th grade science scores dip slightly below the state average, overall the school meets or exceeds Michigan averages in nearly every subject. For families in northwest Detroit, Bates Academy is a clear beacon of excellence, demonstrating that a strong school culture and effective instruction can overcome systemic obstacles.

773

Students ?

18.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,706

Per pupil spending ?

61.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in Michigan receive free school meals.

19701 Wyoming St
Detroit, MI 48221-1519

(313) 494-7000

District: Detroit Public Schools Community District

Racial breakdown:

African American:

99.6%

Hispanic:

0.1%

American Indian:

0.1%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare Bates Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 69th percentile in 2019 → 90th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Michigan average (63% vs 40% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 10% of Michigan elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 21 percentile points since 2019

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school63%

District avg16%

Michigan avg40%

Elementary school

142^nd of 1,492

Michigan public elementary schools ?

Top 10%▲ up 22 pts since 2019

From top 31% (2019) to top 10% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

104^th of 896

Michigan public middle schools ?

Top 12%▲ up 19 pts since 2019

From top 30% (2019) to top 12% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Michigan Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 64Elementary Schools in the Detroit Public Schools Community District

541^st of 625Detroit Public Schools Community District among Michigan districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	89.4	142 of 1492	90.5%	★★★★★
2025	90.5	114 of 1488	92.3%	★★★★★
2024	84.5	193 of 1486	87.0%	★★★★☆
2023	78.6	267 of 1470	81.8%	★★★★☆
2022	52.0	596 of 1344	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.0	440 of 1408	68.8%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	99.4	3 of 388	99.2%	★★★★★
2025	99.7	2 of 369	99.5%	★★★★★
2024	97.0	6 of 348	98.3%	★★★★★
2023	97.8	4 of 321	98.8%	★★★★★
2022	88.8	8 of 158	94.9%	★★★★★
2019	93.5	5 of 212	97.6%	★★★★★
2018	95.6	11 of 475	97.7%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	85.8	140 of 1343	89.6%	★★★★☆
2025	91.0	74 of 1338	94.5%	★★★★★
2024	87.2	110 of 1342	91.8%	★★★★★
2023	76.5	235 of 1321	82.2%	★★★★☆
2022	52.4	495 of 1106	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.5	413 of 1171	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.6	469 of 1443	67.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	95.1	33 of 1352	97.6%	★★★★★
2025	97.6	11 of 1346	99.2%	★★★★★
2024	91.0	48 of 1381	96.5%	★★★★★
2023	85.9	96 of 1350	92.9%	★★★★★
2022	66.8	276 of 1099	74.9%	★★★★☆
2019	80.3	111 of 1134	90.2%	★★★★★
2018	76.5	223 of 1397	84.0%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	88.3	121 of 1372	91.2%	★★★★★
2025	85.0	166 of 1366	87.8%	★★★★☆
2024	73.4	306 of 1347	77.3%	★★★★☆
2023	73.3	297 of 1334	77.7%	★★★★☆
2022	38.6	696 of 1139	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.7	463 of 1196	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.2	684 of 1446	52.7%	★★★☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	85.6	104 of 896	88.4%	★★★★☆
2025	86.4	97 of 890	89.1%	★★★★☆
2024	76.3	162 of 897	81.9%	★★★★☆
2023	68.9	219 of 883	75.2%	★★★★☆
2022	69.0	182 of 776	76.5%	★★★★☆
2021	64.2	185 of 675	72.6%	★★★★☆
2019	63.4	241 of 792	69.6%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	98.4	2 of 337	99.4%	★★★★★
2025	99.0	3 of 338	99.1%	★★★★★
2024	97.0	5 of 300	98.3%	★★★★★
2023	92.8	15 of 310	95.2%	★★★★★
2022	95.2	4 of 182	97.8%	★★★★★
2021	85.9	6 of 77	92.2%	★★★★★
2019	92.8	6 of 196	96.9%	★★★★★
2018	92.3	16 of 366	95.6%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	85.6	86 of 789	89.1%	★★★★☆
2025	86.4	81 of 789	89.7%	★★★★☆
2024	75.8	126 of 771	83.7%	★★★★☆
2023	69.5	177 of 770	77.0%	★★★★☆
2022	70.5	136 of 657	79.3%	★★★★☆
2019	56.7	247 of 658	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.2	326 of 794	58.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	86.4	50 of 834	94.0%	★★★★★
2025	95.7	12 of 832	98.6%	★★★★★
2024	84.9	62 of 836	92.6%	★★★★★
2023	82.9	66 of 825	92.0%	★★★★★
2022	76.0	95 of 691	86.3%	★★★★☆
2019	73.9	100 of 672	85.1%	★★★★☆
2018	64.9	237 of 815	70.9%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Michigan percentile	Rating
2026	81.4	111 of 813	86.3%	★★★★☆
2025	81.6	117 of 798	85.3%	★★★★☆
2024	70.5	172 of 786	78.1%	★★★★☆
2023	59.8	246 of 776	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.3	260 of 658	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.2	256 of 639	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.7	329 of 797	58.7%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

African American (2026)99th percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)98th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)91st percentile~ school

Female (2026)90th percentile~ school

Middle school

African American (2026)99th percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)94th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2026)89th percentile~ school

Male (2026)86th percentile~ school

By subject vs Michigan (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts70%+30 vs state

Math68%+32 vs state

Mathematics50%+17 vs state

Social Studies49%+11 vs state

Science43%+4 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Rate Bates Academy

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a citizen
Friday, October 19, 2018

This is an exceptional school for advanced students Close Quote

Schools Near Bates Academy

Load more schools when map is moved

Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				PSAT English Language Arts (2026)	PSAT Mathematics (2026)	M-Step English Language Arts (2026)					M-Step Math (2026)					M-Step Science (2026)		M-Step Social Studies (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 3rd Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 4th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bates Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	19701 Wyoming St	Detroit	48221	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 494-7000	773	42	18.3	61.1%	0 (0.0%)	770 (99.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	89.4	142^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	90.5%		90.5	114^th of 1488 public elementary schools	92.3%	28	80.4	50.5	58.8	77.2	61.4	72.8	79.1	75.3	72.8	51.8	65.2	74.4	50.6	37.4	41.0	56.6	$19,706	$1,540	$18,166
MacDowell Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	4201 W Outer Dr	Detroit	48221	Wayne County	MacDowell Preparatory Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(313) 494-8141	362	22	16.4	90.9%	1 (0.3%)	359 (99.2%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7.5	1424^th of 1492 public elementary schools	4.6%		6.2	1443^rd of 1488 public elementary schools	3.0%	19	22.9	343.3	1261.8	6.3	12.5	14.0	15.6	1262.3	1365.2	1464.2	1557.1	1656.4	1473.9	16.7	1470.0	29.2	$15,217	$71	$15,145
Pasteur Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-7	19811 Stoepel St	Detroit	48221	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 494-7314	310	27	11.6	89.4%	0 (0.0%)	306 (98.7%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24.4	1092^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	26.8%		12.7	1305^th of 1488 public elementary schools	12.3%	213			1273.1	20.6	19.2	11.1	27.3	1266.1	17.6	23.1	1572.7	23.8	26.9		38.5		$26,521	$3,031	$23,490
Vernor Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	13726 Pembroke Ave	Detroit	48235	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 494-7342	340	20	17.4	92.4%	1 (0.3%)	333 (97.9%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	14.3	1293^rd of 1492 public elementary schools	13.3%		11.8	1319^th of 1488 public elementary schools	11.4%	26	24.2	328.2	1262.5	21.6	22.0	14.3	12.0	19.5	17.1	1464.9	1564.7	1661.6	17.1	1770.7	14.6	1776.6	$20,201	$1,754	$18,447
Bagley Elementary School of Journalism and Technology	Public	PK, KG-7	8100 Curtis St	Detroit	48221	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 494-7175	374	22	17.2	85.8%	0 (0.0%)	364 (97.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.3%)	17.8	1218^th of 1492 public elementary schools	18.4%		15.9	1247^th of 1488 public elementary schools	16.2%	29			6.3	22.6	24.4	20.8	22.8	29.8	18.8	7.3	19.2	14.0	17.5		20.0		$19,996	$1,654	$18,342
Schulze Academy for Technology and Arts	Public	PK, KG-8	10700 Santa Maria St	Detroit	48221	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 340-4400	630	34	18.5	88.4%	1 (0.2%)	620 (98.4%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.6%)	6	1462^nd of 1492 public elementary schools	2.0%		7.9	1401^st of 1488 public elementary schools	5.8%	61	28.1	4.5	12.1	6.8	10.3	9.3	16.5	9.1	5.6	4.8	6.8	3.4	9.5	6.7	1462.5	18.9	$20,253	$1,577	$18,676
Lessenger Early Childhood Center	Public	PK-K	12901 Albany St	Oak Park	48237	Oakland County	Oak Park School District of the City of	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(248) 336-7690	54	10	5.5	79.6%	0 (0.0%)	53 (98.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																	$25,310	$2,436	$22,873
Palmer Park Preparatory Academy	Public	PK, KG-8	3901 Margareta St	Detroit	48221	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 494-7300	405	25	16.2	59.8%	48 (11.9%)	340 (84.0%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (2.5%)	44.5	786^th of 1492 public elementary schools	47.3%		30	1012^th of 1488 public elementary schools	32.0%	226	34.8	10.9	31.3	42.1	36.4	61.9	47.5	34.4	31.6	18.2	42.9	25.6	27.3	8.7	27.3	21.7	$22,495	$1,827	$20,669
Einstein Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	14001 Northend Ave	Oak Park	48237	Oakland County	Oak Park School District of the City of	No	No	No	Yes	(248) 336-7640	387	24	16.3	80.6%	10 (2.6%)	361 (93.3%)	9 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	7	1439^th of 1492 public elementary schools	3.6%		6.8	1430^th of 1488 public elementary schools	3.9%	9			12.9	8.1	19.0			11.4	1365.5	4.8			9.5		4.8		$20,001	$1,554	$18,447
Martin Luther King Junior Education Center Academy	Public, Magnet, Charter	K-8	16827 Appoline St	Detroit	48235	Wayne County	Martin Luther King Junior Education Center Academy	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	(313) 341-4944	234	10	23.4	84.2%	49 (20.9%)	183 (78.2%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)								(n/a)			1275.7	1375.2	1467.0	1574.1	1671.9	1269.2	21.7	1452.8	1556.1	1668.2	1469.5		1463.1		$21,216	$1,476	$19,739

Frequently Asked Questions about Bates Academy

How many students attend Bates Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 773 students attended Bates Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Bates Academy?

Students at Bates Academy are 100% African American.

Is Bates Academy a good school?

Yes. Bates Academy ranks in the top 9.5% of Michigan elementary schools.

What district is Bates Academy in?

Detroit Public Schools Community District

Rate Bates Academy!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

MIMichigan Elementary School Rankings

MIMichigan District Rankings

Schools in Detroit, MI

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Bates Academy!

Latest Michigan data All new data »

2025–26 M-Step, PSAT & SAT test scoresSep 4, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJun 13, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataJan 6, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Michigan Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.