Hope Academy

Hope Academy is the sole public charter elementary school serving grades PK-8 in Detroit, Michigan, with a total enrollment of 414 students. The school's performance is concerning, as it consistently ranks in the bottom 5-10% of Michigan elementary schools and has struggled with low academic achievement for several years.

Demographically, Hope Academy has a highly homogeneous student population, with 99.03% of students identifying as African American. The school's academic performance is significantly below the state averages across multiple grade levels and subject areas, with only 6% of 3rd graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 39.6%. Additionally, the school's 8th grade science proficiency rate of 25% is well below the state's 38.8%. Chronic absenteeism is also a major concern, with a rate of 69.8% for the 2022-2023 school year.

Despite spending $14,170 per student, which is higher than the state average, the school's student-teacher ratio of 31:1 is relatively high, suggesting that the additional funding may not be effectively translating into smaller class sizes or more individualized attention for students. The persistent underperformance and lack of racial diversity in the student population raise questions about equity and access to high-quality educational opportunities for students of color in the Detroit area.