NOVA Discipline Academy

NOVA Discipline Academy is a small alternative school in Oak Park, MI, serving just 108 students in grades 2 through 12 under the Oak Park School District of the City of, a district that ranks in the bottom 4% of Michigan districts.

The most urgent concern for parents is the school's record: the graduation rate has been 0.0% for every year on record, while the dropout rate hit 62.5% in 2024-2025—nearly nine times the state average. Chronic absenteeism affects 85.9% of students, meaning almost 9 in 10 are regularly missing school. Academic testing data is sparse, but where available, proficiency rates are dramatically below state averages (e.g., 11.4% proficient in 11th grade social studies vs. 43.2% statewide). The school spends $22,121 per student, yet produces no graduates. This stands in stark contrast to nearby alternative schools serving similar populations. For example, The School at Marygrove, just over 3 miles away, achieves a 96% graduation rate with a 2.6% dropout rate, and AGBU AlexMarie Manoogian School boasts a 100% graduation rate. Even Lighthouse Connections Academy, a large online school, graduates 72.2% of its students.

With 84.26% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, NOVA serves an overwhelmingly low-income population, but the comparison to Marygrove—which serves a similar demographic with far better results—suggests the school's model itself is the issue. The 18:1 student-teacher ratio is also higher than other intensive alternative programs like Jardon Vocational School (4.5:1) or Kennedy Learning Center (9.2:1). The data points to a school that may be functioning more as a disciplinary holding facility than an educational institution. For parents considering this placement, the evidence strongly suggests that nearby alternative schools offer dramatically better prospects for student success.