Inkster Preparatory Academy

Summary:

Inkster Preparatory Academy is a public charter elementary school serving 266 students in grades K-8 in the city of Inkster, Michigan. The school faces significant challenges, including high chronic absenteeism, low academic performance, and a high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

Inkster Preparatory Academy has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 33.9% in 2020-2021 to 87.4% in 2021-2022, which is significantly higher than the state average and the nearby schools, such as Haigh Elementary School, Memorial Elementary 12 Campus, and Kinloch Elementary School. The school's academic performance, as measured by M-Step and PSAT proficiency rates, is also significantly lower than the state averages and the nearby schools. For example, in 2023-2024, only 15.38% of 3rd graders were proficient in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 39.6%.

Inkster Preparatory Academy has a very high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 91.35% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in the 2022-2023 school year, which is much higher than the nearby schools. Despite the high spending per student at $13,586 in the 2022-2023 school year, the school is ranked very low among Michigan elementary schools, ranking 1344 out of 1486 in 2023-2024 and receiving a 0 out of 5 star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's high student-teacher ratio of 212.8 in the 2022-2023 school year is also significantly higher than the nearby schools, which likely contributes to the school's academic challenges.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-8

27355 Woodsfield St
Inkster, MI 48141-1242

(313) 278-3825

District: Inkster Preparatory Academy

SchoolDigger Rank:
1344^th of 1,486 Michigan Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,586

Student/teacher ratio: 212.8

Number of students: 266

Racial breakdown:

African American:

86.1%

Two or more races:

5.3%

White:

3.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 91.4%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Inkster Preparatory Academy ranks worse than 90.4% of elementary schools in Michigan. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 9.84. (See more...)

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 (86.1%), two or more races (5.3%), Hispanic (3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 91.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Inkster Preparatory Academy is 212.8. (See more...)

Compare Inkster Preparatory Academy employs 1.2 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Inkster Preparatory Academy is $13,586.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Inkster Preparatory Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Inkster Preparatory Academy 1344^th of 1486 Michigan public elementary schools. (See Inkster Preparatory Academy in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

African American students:

Inkster Preparatory Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Inkster Preparatory Academy 580^th of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Inkster Preparatory Academy

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Rank History for all students at Inkster Preparatory Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	7.51	1383^rd	1470	5.9%
2024	9.84	1344^th	1486	9.6%

See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Inkster Preparatory Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	10.66	1264^th	1350	6.4%
2024	10.34	1293^rd	1381	6.4%

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

Rank History for African American students at Inkster Preparatory Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	25.25	254^th	321	20.9%
2024	28.82	248^th	348	28.7%

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.

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Thursday, December 3, 2020

This does not care about the students. 90of staff has an attitude problem. I can not wait tell next year my child will not be returning. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Inkster Preparatory Academy

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2017	4	95	0	3	0	0	102
2018	0	163	0	4	1	4	172
2019	3	160	0	6	0	11	180
2020	2	165	0	9	0	10	186
2021	4	180	0	9	0	15	208
2022	11	188	1	9	0	21	230
2023	8	229	4	8	3	14	266

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 Inkster Preparatory Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2017	102	6.2	16.3	94.1
2018	172	8.0	21.5	75
2019	180	5.0	36.0	89.4
2020	186	5.0	37.2	88.7
2021	208	5.0	41.6	88.5
2022	230	1.0	230.0	87
2023	266	1.2	212.8	91.4

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 Inkster Preparatory Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2017	102	6.2	16.3	94.1
2018	172	8.0	21.5	75
2019	180	5.0	36.0	89.4
2020	186	5.0	37.2	88.7
2021	208	5.0	41.6	88.5
2022	230	1.0	230.0	87
2023	266	1.2	212.8	91.4

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 Inkster Preparatory Academy

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,369 (14.1%)	$8,356 (85.9%)	$9,725
2020	$1,133 (11.6%)	$8,641 (88.4%)	$9,774
2021	$1,742 (17.4%)	$8,258 (82.6%)	$10,000
2022	$2,209 (21.6%)	$8,003 (78.4%)	$10,212
2023	$2,633 (19.4%)	$10,952 (80.6%)	$13,586

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Inkster 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.

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Inkster Preparatory Academy)	26.7	10	16.7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Inkster Preparatory Academy)	26.7	10	16.7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	45.1	40.9	4.2%
3rd Grade Math (Inkster Preparatory Academy)	43.3	10	33.3%
3rd Grade Math (Inkster Preparatory Academy)	43.3	10	33.3%
3rd Grade Math (Michigan)	46.7	42.9	3.8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	180	266	47.8%
African American	160	229	43.1%
American Indian	0	3
Asian	0	4
Hispanic	6	8	33.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	3	8	166.7%
Two or More Races	11	14	27.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	89.4%	91.4%	1.9%

Schools Near Inkster Preparatory Academy

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)	M-Step English Language Arts (2024)				M-Step Math (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	M-Step English Language Arts 3rd Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 4th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Inkster Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	27355 Woodsfield St	Inkster	48141	Wayne County	Inkster Preparatory Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(313) 278-3825	266	1	212.8	91.4%	8 (3.0%)	229 (86.1%)	8 (3.0%)	4 (1.5%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.3%)	9.8	1344^th of 1486 public elementary schools	9.6%		7.5	1383^rd of 1470 public elementary schools	5.9%	39	40.0	15.4	12.5	15.4		22.2					$13,586	$2,633	$10,952
David Hicks School	Public	PK, KG-5	100 Helen St	Inkster	48141	Wayne County	Wayne-Westland Community School District	No	No	No	Yes	(734) 419-2660	407	29	14.0	89.2%	56 (13.8%)	317 (77.9%)	16 (3.9%)	2 (0.5%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.9%)	7	1414^th of 1486 public elementary schools	4.8%		5.4	1437^th of 1470 public elementary schools	2.2%	23		6.8	15.9	14.9		19.4			4.5		$22,884	$3,261	$19,623
Lathers Early Childhood and Kindergarten Center	Public	PK-K	28351 Marquette St	Garden City	48135	Wayne County	Garden City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(734) 762-8490	221	29	7.6	59.3%	161 (72.9%)	27 (12.2%)	16 (7.2%)	5 (2.3%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.5%)								(n/a)											$20,477	$2,632	$17,845
American International Academy Upper Elementary	Public, Charter	3-6	28955 Rosewood St	Inkster	48141	Wayne County	American International Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(734) 713-5525	131	9	14.8	99.2%	2 (1.5%)	126 (96.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.5%)								(n/a)		12.0			7.1						$7,787	$1,574	$6,213
Tipton Academy PK3	Public, Charter	PK, KG-3	1615 Belton St	Garden City	48135	Wayne County	Tipton Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(734) 261-0500	279	22	12.8	77.1%	105 (37.6%)	138 (49.5%)	15 (5.4%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.8%)								(n/a)		23.3				33.9					$14,977	$4,538	$10,439
Kinloch Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-4	1505 Kinloch St	Dearborn Heights	48127	Wayne County	Crestwood School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(313) 278-4482	525	27	19.3	72.0%	507 (96.6%)	8 (1.5%)	6 (1.1%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	65.7	474^th of 1486 public elementary schools	68.1%		66.8	442^nd of 1470 public elementary schools	69.9%	32		50.8	46.3			60.3	40.4				$13,918	$1,629	$12,289
Daly School	Public	PK, KG-6	25824 Michigan Ave	Inkster	48141	Wayne County	Westwood Community School District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 565-0016	172	10	16.8	95.9%	9 (5.2%)	153 (89.0%)	4 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.9%)	9.7	1354^th of 1486 public elementary schools	8.9%		11.4	1293^rd of 1470 public elementary schools	12.0%	61			12.5		13.0		16.7				$18,672	$6,122	$12,550
Haigh Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	601 N Silvery Ln	Dearborn	48128	Wayne County	Dearborn City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(313) 827-6200	559	30	18.6	56.9%	530 (94.8%)	10 (1.8%)	12 (2.1%)	5 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	72.4	368^th of 1486 public elementary schools	75.2%		72.5	356^th of 1470 public elementary schools	75.8%	12		55.3	73.7	56.5		64.9	63.9	44.7	36.5	17.6	$17,384	$2,569	$14,815
Memorial Elementary 12 Campus	Public	1-2	30001 Marquette St	Garden City	48135	Wayne County	Garden City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(734) 762-8480	402	31	12.9	61.7%	306 (76.1%)	44 (10.9%)	27 (6.7%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.2%)								(n/a)											$18,685	$2,417	$16,268
American International Academy Elementary	Public, Charter	K-2	300 S Henry Ruff Rd	Westland	48186	Wayne County	American International Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(734) 713-5525	190	16	12.2	98.4%	2 (1.1%)	180 (94.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.2%)								(n/a)											$32,416	$7,422	$24,994

Frequently Asked Questions about Inkster Preparatory Academy

What is the racial makeup of Inkster Preparatory Academy?

Students at Inkster Preparatory Academy are 86% African American, 5% Two or more races, 3% White, 3% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 1% American Indian.

What district is Inkster Preparatory Academy in?

Inkster Preparatory Academy

Is Inkster Preparatory Academy a good school?

Inkster Preparatory Academy ranks in the bottom 9.6% of Michigan elementary schools.

How many students attend Inkster Preparatory Academy?

In the 2022-23 school year, 266 students attended Inkster Preparatory Academy.

Rate Inkster 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.