Detroit Edison Public School Academy

The Detroit Edison Public School Academy district operates two schools in the Detroit area - the Detroit Edison Public School Academy elementary school and the Detroit Edison Public School Academy High School. These schools serve a predominantly African American student population and face significant challenges, including low academic performance, high chronic absenteeism, and a disconnect between spending and outcomes.

Both the elementary and high school perform well below the state average on standardized tests, with proficiency rates ranging from just 10.8% to 59.2% in math and 36.9% to 59.2% in English language arts at the elementary level. The high school also lags the state in science, social studies, and SAT performance. Chronic absenteeism is a major issue, with rates of 34.8% at the elementary school and 52.6% at the high school, which likely contributes to the low academic achievement.

Despite relatively high per-student spending of around $11,500, the schools are not seeing strong academic results. This suggests that simply increasing funding may not be the sole solution, and that other factors, such as resource allocation, teacher quality, and program effectiveness, need to be examined. Addressing the complex issues of attendance, academic performance, and equitable resource distribution will be critical for the Detroit Edison Public School Academy district to improve outcomes for its students.