Denby High School

Summary:

Denby High School is a public high school in Detroit, Michigan, serving 537 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Detroit Public Schools Community District, which is ranked 563 out of 610 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Denby High School faces significant challenges, with an overwhelmingly African American student population, consistently low academic performance, and high rates of chronic absenteeism and dropout. The school's proficiency rates in core subjects like science and social studies are well below the state and district averages, with only 3.3% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in these areas, compared to 37.5% and 39.6% statewide, respectively. Denby's graduation rates have ranged from 58.1% to 76.4% over the past five years, and its chronic absenteeism rate reached 94% in the 2021-2022 school year. In contrast, the nearby East English Village Preparatory Academy at Finney has slightly higher proficiency and graduation rates than Denby.

Denby High School's performance is particularly concerning for specific student subgroups, such as male students and African American students, who rank in the bottom 1-2% of their respective groups statewide. Despite the high level of need at the school, its per-student spending is only slightly above the Detroit Public Schools Community District average, suggesting that additional resources may be required to address the significant academic and social-emotional challenges faced by the student population.

Detail:

Public 9-12

12800 Kelly Rd
Detroit, MI 48224-1599

(313) 866-7200

District: Detroit Public Schools Community District

SchoolDigger Rank:
742^nd of 743 Michigan High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $20,878

Student/teacher ratio: 17.5

Number of students: 537

Racial breakdown:

African American:

99.6%

Asian:

0.2%

Two or more races:

0.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 87.7%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Denby High School ranks worse than 99.9% of high schools in Michigan. It also ranks last among 15 ranked high schools in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 2.26. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Denby High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a 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

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (99.6%), Asian (0.2%), two or more races (0.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 87.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Denby High School is 17.5. 17 high schools in the Detroit Public Schools Community District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Denby High School employs 30.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Denby High School is $20,878. 14 high schools in the Detroit Public Schools Community District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Denby High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Denby High School 742^nd of 743 Michigan public high schools. (See Denby High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

African American students:

Detroit Public Schools Community District:

SchoolDigger ranks Detroit Public Schools Community District 563^rd of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Denby High School

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Rank History for all students at Denby High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2019	1.11	666^th	666	0.0%
2023	2.18	734^th	735	0.1%
2024	2.26	742^nd	743	0.1%

See the entire list of Michigan High School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Denby High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	2.67	613^th	614	0.2%
2024	3.17	652^nd	654	0.3%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Male students at Denby High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	1.81	610^th	611	0.2%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Denby High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2019	6.12	146^th	147	0.7%
2023	9.01	170^th	170	0.0%
2024	8.12	188^th	188	0.0%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High 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.

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Denby High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2018	1	509	0	1	0	0	511
2019	1	501	0	3	0	0	505
2020	0	537	0	2	0	0	539
2021	0	581	0	0	1	0	582
2022	0	574	0	0	1	1	576
2023	0	535	1	0	0	1	537

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 Denby High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2018	511	26.0	19.6	82.2
2019	505	26.5	19.0	88.9
2020	539	30.0	17.9	90.7
2021	582	30.0	19.4	86.9
2022	576	33.5	17.1	89.6
2023	537	30.6	17.5	87.7

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 Denby High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2018	511	26.0	19.6	82.2
2019	505	26.5	19.0	88.9
2020	539	30.0	17.9	90.7
2021	582	30.0	19.4	86.9
2022	576	33.5	17.1	89.6
2023	537	30.6	17.5	87.7

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 Denby High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$3,561 (24.8%)	$10,816 (75.2%)	$14,376
2020	$4,300 (26.7%)	$11,798 (73.3%)	$16,098
2021	$3,838 (23.6%)	$12,449 (76.4%)	$16,287
2022	$8,173 (39.1%)	$12,746 (60.9%)	$20,919
2023	$7,310 (35.0%)	$13,568 (65.0%)	$20,878

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Denby High School

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 666^th of 666 High schools	Ranks 734^th of 735 High schools	0.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Denby High School)	8.8	6.4	2.4%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Detroit Public Schools Community District)	28.5	32.9	4.4%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Michigan)	55.3	52.2	3.1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	505	537	6.3%
African American	501	535	6.8%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	1
Hispanic	3	0	100%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	1	0	100%
Two or More Races	0	1
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	88.9%	87.7%	1.2%

Schools Near Denby High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (2024)	M-Step Science (2024)	M-Step Social Studies (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
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/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	M-Step Science 11th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Denby High School	Public	9-12	12800 Kelly Rd	Detroit	48224	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 866-7200	537	31	17.5	87.7%	0 (0.0%)	535 (99.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2.3	742^nd of 743 public high schools	0.1%		2.2	734^th of 735 public high schools	0.1%	8	5.4	3.3	3.3	$20,878	$7,310	$13,568
Chandler Park Academy High School	Public, Charter	9-12	20254 Kelly Rd	Harper Woods	48225	Wayne County	Chandler Park Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(313) 499-3010	682	37	18.4	97.4%	0 (0.0%)	682 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4.8	719^th of 743 public high schools	3.2%		8.6	676^th of 735 public high schools	8.0%	43	17.4	6.6	6.6	$13,403	$2,827	$10,575
Harper Woods High School	Public, Magnet	9-12	20225 Beaconsfield St	Harper Woods	48225	Wayne County	Harper Woods The School District of the City of	No	Yes	No	Yes	(313) 245-3084	879	40	22.2	77.4%	19 (2.2%)	858 (97.6%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5.3	712^th of 743 public high schools	4.2%		6.7	690^th of 735 public high schools	6.1%	22	15.6	8.2	9.2	$17,842	$3,144	$14,698
Harper Academy	Public, Virtual	7-12	20225 Beaconsfield St	Harper Woods	48225	Wayne County	Harper Woods The School District of the City of	No	No	Yes	Yes	(313) 245-3084	0	1	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)				$24,544	$2,845	$21,700
The Harper Woods College and Career Institute	Public	9-12	20570 Kelly Rd	Harper Woods	48225	Wayne County	Harper Woods The School District of the City of	No	No	No	No	(313) 332-8451	0	6	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
East English Village Preparatory Academy at Finney	Public	9-12	5020 Cadieux Rd	Detroit	48224	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 873-0655	697	42	16.6	85.1%	2 (0.3%)	685 (98.3%)	4 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	4.9	717^th of 743 public high schools	3.5%		2.6	731^st of 735 public high schools	0.5%	14	7.8	5.6	13.7	$23,498	$7,345	$16,153
Osborn High School	Public	9-12	11600 E 7 Mile Rd	Detroit	48205	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 866-0343	407	26	15.8	91.9%	4 (1.0%)	399 (98.0%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)				$21,801	$8,063	$13,737
Eastpointe Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	6-12	15501 Couzens Ave	Eastpointe	48021	Macomb County	Eastpointe Community Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(586) 533-3700	127	3	49.4	77.2%	10 (7.9%)	106 (83.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (5.5%)								(n/a)				$6,969	$2,578	$4,391
Eastpointe Alternative Center	Public	8-12	15501 Couzens Ave	Eastpointe	48021	Macomb County	Eastpointe Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(586) 533-3700	4	0			1 (25.0%)	3 (75.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Eastpointe High School	Public	9-12	15501 Couzens Ave	Eastpointe	48021	Macomb County	Eastpointe Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(586) 533-3700	633	42	15.0	78.8%	53 (8.4%)	536 (84.7%)	3 (0.5%)	4 (0.6%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (5.1%)	7	693^rd of 743 public high schools	6.7%		4.2	718^th of 735 public high schools	2.3%	25	12.6	10.8	14.9	$25,626	$5,695	$19,931

Frequently Asked Questions about Denby High School

Is Denby High School a good school?

Denby High School ranks in the bottom 0.1% of Michigan high schools.

What district is Denby High School in?

Detroit Public Schools Community District

How many students attend Denby High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 537 students attended Denby High School.

What is the racial makeup of Denby High School?

Students at Denby High School are 100% African American.

What schools feed into Denby High School?

Denby High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Brewer Academy
Elementary : Carleton Elementary School
Elementary : Edward Duke Ellington at Beckham
Elementary : Wayne Elementary School

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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.