Western International High School

Summary:

Western International High School is a public high school located in Detroit, Michigan, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 2,151 students. The school is part of the Detroit Public Schools Community District, which is ranked 563 out of 610 districts in Michigan and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Western International High School has struggled with low academic performance, with a 4-year graduation rate of only 66.7% and a dropout rate of 22.3% in the 2022-2023 school year, both significantly worse than state averages. The school's test scores are also significantly below state and district averages, with only 6.5% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in M-Step/Science, compared to the state average of 37.5%. The school's student population is predominantly Hispanic (72.29%) and African American (19.62%), and data suggests these student groups are performing significantly worse than their White and Asian peers at nearby schools, such as Cass Technical High School.

Despite the school's poor performance, it receives a relatively high level of funding, with a per-student spending of $18,085 in the 2022-2023 school year. This suggests that the issue may not be solely a lack of resources, but rather the effective allocation and utilization of those resources. One significant concern is the school's extremely high chronic absenteeism rate of 77.8%, which is more than triple the state average of 22.8%. Addressing the root causes of this issue should be a top priority for the school and the Detroit Public Schools Community District.

Detail:

Public 9-12

1500 Scotten St
Detroit, MI 48209-2139

(313) 849-4758

District: Detroit Public Schools Community District

SchoolDigger Rank:
714^th of 743 Michigan High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $18,085

Feeder schools for Western International High School:

Elementary:	Bennett Elementary School
	Earhart ElementaryMiddle School
	Harms Elementary School
	Mark Twain ElementaryMiddle School
	More...
	Maybury Elementary School
	Munger ElementaryMiddle School
	Neinas Dual Language Learning Academy
	Roberto Clemente Learning Academy

Student/teacher ratio: 25.7

Number of students: 2,151

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

72.3%

African American:

19.6%

White:

7.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 75.6%

See top rated Michigan high schools

Compare Western International High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Western International High School ranks worse than 96.1% of high schools in Michigan. It also ranks 9^th among 15 ranked high schools in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 5.2. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Western International 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: Hispanic (72.3%), African American (19.6%), White (7.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 75.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Western International High School is 25.7, which is the highest among 25 high schools in the Detroit Public Schools Community District! (See more...)

Compare Western International High School employs 83.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Western International High School is $18,085. 20 high schools in the Detroit Public Schools Community District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Western International High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Western International High School 714^th of 743 Michigan public high schools. (See Western International High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

Detroit Public Schools Community District:

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

What do you think?

Your rating for Western International High School?

(Ranking FAQ)

Rank History for Western International High School

Compare

Rank History for all students at Western International High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2019	3.46	648^th	666	2.7%
2021	4.38	553^rd	561	1.4%
2022	3.46	530^th	531	0.2%
2023	4.03	720^th	735	2.0%
2024	5.20	714^th	743	3.9%

See the entire list of Michigan High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Western International High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	34.79	59^th	102	42.2%
2019	25.71	20^th	27	25.9%
2023	17.25	31^st	35	11.4%
2024	13.35	43^rd	43	0.0%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Western International High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	17.50	270^th	315	14.3%

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

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Western International High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	15.46	604^th	755	20.0%
2019	4.34	515^th	532	3.2%
2022	3.98	368^th	369	0.3%
2023	4.23	605^th	614	1.5%
2024	6.25	629^th	654	3.8%

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

Rank History for Female students at Western International High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	9.26	604^th	710	14.9%
2019	2.91	537^th	554	3.1%
2023	2.24	607^th	611	0.7%
2024	2.86	614^th	619	0.8%

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

Rank History for Male students at Western International High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	8.70	619^th	707	12.4%
2019	1.70	537^th	543	1.1%
2023	3.32	604^th	611	1.1%
2024	3.90	620^th	633	2.1%

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

Rank History for African American students at Western International High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	24.55	178^th	254	29.9%
2023	11.63	164^th	170	3.5%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Western International High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	14.07	177^th	201	11.9%
2019	4.84	96^th	97	1.0%
2021	8.19	63^rd	64	1.6%
2023	3.48	190^th	190	0.0%
2024	4.36	194^th	195	0.5%

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

Rank History for White students at Western International High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	4.48	659^th	708	6.9%

See the entire list of Best Michigan High Schools for White 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

We're sorry, but no reviews have been submitted for Western International High School.

If you have first-hand knowledge about Western International High School, submit a rating!

No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Western International High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2017	134	370	4	1352	16	2	1878
2018	153	376	1	1436	16	3	1985
2019	139	341	0	1392	3	5	1880
2020	156	364	2	1438	4	0	1964
2021	174	364	2	1460	6	1	2007
2022	163	403	2	1461	6	0	2035
2023	163	422	7	1555	3	1	2151

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 Western International High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2017	1878	70.0	26.8	61.7
2018	1985	81.0	24.5	79.9
2019	1880	81.0	23.2	80.6
2020	1964	76.0	25.8	79.6
2021	2007	76.0	26.4	76.9
2022	2035	76.2	26.7	74.6
2023	2151	83.6	25.7	75.6

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 Western International High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2017	1878	70.0	26.8	61.7
2018	1985	81.0	24.5	79.9
2019	1880	81.0	23.2	80.6
2020	1964	76.0	25.8	79.6
2021	2007	76.0	26.4	76.9
2022	2035	76.2	26.7	74.6
2023	2151	83.6	25.7	75.6

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 Western International High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,993 (15.6%)	$10,775 (84.4%)	$12,769
2020	$2,183 (17.3%)	$10,447 (82.7%)	$12,630
2021	$1,794 (13.2%)	$11,756 (86.8%)	$13,550
2022	$6,596 (36.1%)	$11,674 (63.9%)	$18,270
2023	$5,631 (31.1%)	$12,454 (68.9%)	$18,085

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Western International 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 648^th of 666 High schools	Ranks 720^th of 735 High schools	0.7%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade Social Studies (Western International High School)	8.6	6.7	1.9%
11th Grade Social Studies (Detroit Public Schools Community District)	17.7	15.4	2.3%
11th Grade Social Studies (Michigan)	46.6	36.1	10.5%
11th Grade Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Western International High School)	21.1	17	4.1%
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%
11th Grade Mathematics (Western International High School)	5.3	3.5	1.8%
11th Grade Mathematics (Detroit Public Schools Community District)	11.4	11.7	0.3%
11th Grade Mathematics (Michigan)	36.3	29.9	6.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1880	2151	14.4%
African American	341	422	23.8%
American Indian	3	3
Asian	0	7
Hispanic	1392	1555	11.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	139	163	17.3%
Two or More Races	5	1	80%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	80.6%	75.6%	5%

Schools Near Western International High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				PSAT English Language Arts (2024)	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (2024)	SAT Mathematics (2024)	M-Step English Language Arts (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	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th 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
Western International High School	Public	9-12	1500 Scotten St	Detroit	48209	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 849-4758	2,151	84	25.7	75.6%	163 (7.6%)	422 (19.6%)	1,555 (72.3%)	7 (0.3%)	3 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.0%)	5.2	714^th of 743 public high schools	3.9%		4	720^th of 735 public high schools	2.0%	6		17.1	4.4		6.5	8.1	$18,085	$5,631	$12,454
Covenant High School Southwest	Public, Charter	9-12	1450 25th St	Detroit	48216	Wayne County	Covenant Schools Detroit	Yes	No	No	Yes	(313) 297-8720	135	6	21.7	94.8%	8 (5.9%)	56 (41.5%)	69 (51.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.5%)								(n/a)							$13,501	$1,726	$11,775
Covenant High School Central	Public, Charter	9-12	2959 Martin Luther King Jr Bl	Detroit	48208	Wayne County	Covenant Schools Detroit	Yes	No	No	Yes	(313) 899-6900	186	7	25.3	96.2%	3 (1.6%)	182 (97.8%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)							$15,204	$3,281	$11,923
Cesar Chavez High School	Public, Charter	9-12	1761 Waterman St	Detroit	48209	Wayne County	Cesar Chavez Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(313) 551-0611	705	37	18.9	99.1%	16 (2.3%)	22 (3.1%)	662 (93.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.7%)	11.7	656^th of 743 public high schools	11.7%		24.4	554^th of 735 public high schools	24.6%	102		22.8	5.4		17.5	18.7	$11,810	$3,717	$8,093
Detroit Public Safety Academy	Public, Charter	6-12	1250 Rosa Parks Blvd	Detroit	48216	Wayne County	Detroit Public Safety Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(313) 965-6916	159	8	20.9	96.9%	1 (0.6%)	155 (97.5%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.3%)	4.8	722^nd of 743 public high schools	2.8%					(n/a)		12.2				10.2	$13,801	$5,081	$8,720
Legacy Academy	Public	6-12	2750 Selden St	Detroit	48208	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 578-7235	21	8	2.5	95.2%	0 (0.0%)	21 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)							$109,418	$20,138	$89,280
Voyageur College Prep	Public, Charter	9-12	4366 Military St	Detroit	48210	Wayne County	Voyageur Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(313) 361-4180	474	22	21.5	96.2%	11 (2.3%)	354 (74.7%)	104 (21.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.8%)	4.4	725^th of 743 public high schools	2.4%		8	680^th of 735 public high schools	7.5%	45		13.4			7.0	7.8	$4,332	$525	$3,807
Detroit Lions Academy	Public	6-12	2001 W Warren Ave	Detroit	48208	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 852-9677	238	20	12.0	92.0%	2 (0.8%)	234 (98.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)								(n/a)	15.2			13.5			$26,468	$9,172	$17,296
Cass Technical High School	Public	9-12	2501 2nd Ave	Detroit	48201	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 263-2000	2,395	100	23.9	62.2%	46 (1.9%)	1,823 (76.1%)	280 (11.7%)	226 (9.4%)	5 (0.2%)	1 (0.0%)	14 (0.6%)	68.8	185^th of 743 public high schools	75.1%		59.6	263^rd of 735 public high schools	64.2%	78		71.7	32.1		34.7	47.1	$17,460	$5,109	$12,351
Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men	Public	9-12	9026 Woodward Ave	Detroit	48202	Wayne County	Detroit Public Schools Community District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 596-3555	76	9	8.2	68.4%	0 (0.0%)	75 (98.7%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)							$44,593	$14,910	$29,683

Frequently Asked Questions about Western International High School

Western International High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Bennett Elementary School
Elementary : Earhart ElementaryMiddle School
Elementary : Harms Elementary School
Elementary : Mark Twain ElementaryMiddle School
Elementary : Maybury Elementary School
Elementary : Munger ElementaryMiddle School
Elementary : Neinas Dual Language Learning Academy
Elementary : Roberto Clemente Learning Academy

How many students attend Western International High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 2,151 students attended Western International High School.

Is Western International High School a good school?

Western International High School ranks in the bottom 3.9% of Michigan high schools.

Western International High School

Western International High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Detroit Public Schools Community District:

What do you think?

Rank History for Western International High School

Rank History for all students at Western International High School

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Western International High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Western International High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Western International High School

Rank History for Female students at Western International High School

Rank History for Male students at Western International High School

Rank History for African American students at Western International High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Western International High School

Rank History for White students at Western International High School

Enrollment information for Western International High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Western International High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Western International High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Western International High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Western International High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Western International High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Western International High School

Rate Western International High School!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Sign up for updates!