MacDowell Preparatory Academy

Summary:

MacDowell Preparatory Academy is a public charter elementary school serving grades PK-8 in Detroit, Michigan, with a student population of 368 as of the 2022-2023 school year, and a predominantly African American student body (98.37%).

Despite the school's relatively high per-student spending of $14,604, MacDowell Preparatory Academy consistently ranks among the lowest-performing elementary schools in Michigan, with proficiency rates on state assessments significantly below the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2023-2024, only 14.7% of 5th graders were proficient in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 44%. The school also faces extremely high chronic absenteeism rates, reaching as high as 72.5% in the 2021-2022 school year, which is significantly higher than the state average and the surrounding schools. Interestingly, nearby schools such as Foreign Language Immersion and Cultural Studies and Bates Academy, which serve similar student populations, significantly outperform MacDowell Preparatory Academy on academic measures.

The data analysis of MacDowell Preparatory Academy reveals several concerning trends, including its consistently low academic performance, high chronic absenteeism rates, and the fact that it serves a student population that is overwhelmingly from low-income backgrounds, with over 99% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. These factors, combined with the stark contrast between MacDowell Preparatory Academy and the nearby higher-performing schools, highlight the need for a comprehensive, data-driven approach to address the systemic issues facing this school, focusing on improving attendance, providing targeted academic interventions, and addressing the unique needs of the low-income student population.


Detail:

Public, Charter PK, KG-8

 4201 W Outer Dr
       Detroit, MI  48221-1457


(313) 494-8141

District: MacDowell Preparatory Academy

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,604 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  17.5 Help
Number of students:  368

Racial breakdown:

African American:
98.4%
White:
0.8%
Hispanic:
0.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  99.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details MacDowell Preparatory Academy is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 6.74. (See more...)
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Compare Details MacDowell Preparatory Academy ranks worse than 92.6% of middle schools in Michigan. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 9.13. (See more...)
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Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (98.4%), White (0.8%), Hispanic (0.5%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 99.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at MacDowell Preparatory Academy is 17.5. (See more...)
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Compare MacDowell Preparatory Academy employs 21 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at MacDowell Preparatory Academy is $14,604.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

MacDowell Preparatory Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks MacDowell Preparatory Academy 831st of 897 Michigan public middle schools. (See MacDowell Preparatory Academy in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


African American students:




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Rank History for MacDowell Preparatory Academy

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Rank History for all elementary school students at MacDowell Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2015 7.29 1516th 1580 4.1%
2016 8.55 1433rd 1548 7.4%
2017 4.58 1438th 1466 1.9%
2018 8.16 1398th 1448 3.5%
2019 7.63 1323rd 1408 6.0%
2023 6.74 1400th 1470 4.8%
See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at MacDowell Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 11.23 1308th 1397 6.4%
2019 11.95 1054th 1134 7.1%
2023 9.41 1279th 1350 5.3%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at MacDowell Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 8.70 1367th 1443 5.3%
2019 11.18 1092nd 1171 6.7%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at MacDowell Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 8.15 1370th 1446 5.3%
2023 5.01 1315th 1334 1.4%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school African American students at MacDowell Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.31 384th 475 19.2%
2019 27.21 151st 212 28.8%
2023 17.95 284th 321 11.5%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for MacDowell Preparatory Academy

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Rank History for all middle school students at MacDowell Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2015 11.50 814th 919 11.4%
2016 8.73 818th 894 8.5%
2017 17.34 686th 821 16.4%
2018 11.85 768th 838 8.4%
2019 7.14 753rd 792 4.9%
2022 8.99 733rd 776 5.5%
2023 6.41 852nd 883 3.5%
2024 9.13 831st 897 7.4%
See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at MacDowell Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 15.66 716th 815 12.1%
2019 9.66 640th 672 4.8%
2022 13.20 642nd 691 7.1%
2024 15.84 744th 836 11.0%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at MacDowell Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 10.22 722nd 794 9.1%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at MacDowell Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.78 698th 797 12.4%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at MacDowell Preparatory Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools MI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.07 239th 366 34.7%
2019 25.10 156th 196 20.4%
2022 28.13 133rd 182 26.9%
2023 19.26 268th 310 13.5%
2024 24.17 234th 300 22.0%
See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

MacDowell Preparatory Academy Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: Michigan Department of Education

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Enrollment information for MacDowell Preparatory Academy

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2013 0 513 0 0 0 0 0 0 513
2014 0 369 0 3 0 0 0 0 372
2015 0 403 0 3 0 0 0 0 406
2016 0 356 0 0 0 0 0 0 356
2017 0 325 0 0 0 0 0 0 325
2018 0 343 0 0 0 0 0 0 343
2019 1 365 0 0 0 0 0 0 366
2020 1 380 0 0 0 0 0 0 381
2021 1 359 0 1 0 0 0 0 361
2022 1 327 0 2 0 0 0 0 330
2023 3 362 0 2 0 1 0 0 368

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at MacDowell Preparatory Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2013 513 19.5 26.3 82.7
2014 372 23.0 16.1 83.1
2015 406 16.0 25.3 86.7
2016 356 18.0 19.7 89.3
2017 325 12.3 26.3 97.2
2018 343 16.3 21.0 98.8
2019 366 17.5 20.9 98.6
2020 381 18.5 20.5 99.2
2021 361 20.0 18.0 97
2022 330 0.0 n/a 96.4
2023 368 21.0 17.5 99.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio MacDowell Preparatory Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2013 513 19.5 26.3 82.7
2014 372 23.0 16.1 83.1
2015 406 16.0 25.3 86.7
2016 356 18.0 19.7 89.3
2017 325 12.3 26.3 97.2
2018 343 16.3 21.0 98.8
2019 366 17.5 20.9 98.6
2020 381 18.5 20.5 99.2
2021 361 20.0 18.0 97
2022 330 0.0 n/a 96.4
2023 368 21.0 17.5 99.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for MacDowell Preparatory Academy

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $996 (11.0%) $8,090 (89.0%) $9,087
2020 $1,467 (15.0%) $8,319 (85.0%) $9,786
2021 $1,763 (18.4%) $7,824 (81.6%) $9,587
2022 $3,165 (33.3%) $6,344 (66.7%) $9,509
2023 $3,458 (23.7%) $11,146 (76.3%) $14,604

Data source: Michigan Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on MacDowell Preparatory Academy

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 1323rd of 1408 Elementary schoolsRanks 1400th of 1470 Elementary schools
 1.3%
Ranks 753rd of 792 Middle schoolsRanks 852nd of 883 Middle schools
 1.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade Math (MacDowell Preparatory Academy)21.49.1
 12.3%
   3rd Grade Math (MacDowell Preparatory Academy)21.49.1
 12.3%
   3rd Grade Math (Michigan)46.742.9
 3.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (MacDowell Preparatory Academy)23.17.1
 16%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (MacDowell Preparatory Academy)23.17.1
 16%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)46.243.9
 2.3%
7th Grade English Language Arts (MacDowell Preparatory Academy)11.510
 1.5%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (MacDowell Preparatory Academy)11.510
 1.5%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)42.736.9
 5.8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (MacDowell Preparatory Academy)32.724.3
 8.4%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (MacDowell Preparatory Academy)32.724.3
 8.4%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)61.959.7
 2.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students366368
 0.5%
African American365362
 0.8%
American Indian00
Asian00
Hispanic02
Pacific Islander01
White13
 200%
Two or More Races00
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients98.6%99.5%
 0.8%


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Frequently Asked Questions about MacDowell Preparatory Academy

Students at MacDowell Preparatory Academy are 98% African American.

In the 2022-23 school year, 368 students attended MacDowell Preparatory Academy.


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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.





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