Detroit Public Schools Community District Demonstrates Strong Graduation Rate Improvement

DETROIT — February 24, 2023 —The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) released high school graduation rates for the 2021-2022 school year showing Detroit Public School Community District (DPSCD) increased by 6.5 percentage points from 64.5% to 71.1%. The District’s increase outpaced the state’s, which improved by 0.5 percentage points to 81%. DPSCD’s 4-year dropout rate also declined by 0.6% from 14.5% to 13.8%. The State’s 4-year dropout increased by 0.5% from 7.7% to 8.2%.  

“The improvement in graduation rates is a testament to our continued commitment to improve the high school experience for our students. Although we still have a lot of work to do in this area, I am proud of the strategic and intentional work of our high school district team, high school principals, and their staffs. The course recovery work, especially as a product of the pandemic, has been grueling for staff and students, but everyone refused to make excuses and our students benefited by graduating in four years. DPSCD’s stock is rising and will continue to rise in this post-pandemic period and our students will be the most rewarded due to that improvement,” said Dr. Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent, DPSCD.  

The District’s improvement in graduation rate was experienced across the District’s high schools with 20 of 23 (87%) of schools demonstrating improvement. Among DPSCD high schools, the highest improvement in graduation rates include:   

    • West Side Academy: +25.6 % Points
    • Mumford High School: +21.1 % Points
    • Denby High School: +16.2 % Points
    • Central High School: +15.2 % Points
    • Academy of the Americas High School: +11.3 % Points

“Graduation rates is one of our most important Strategic Plan metrics. Despite the challenges related to the pandemic, it is encouraging to see the District return its focus on reform and make improvement in this area considering it’s directly related to our students being better prepared for college and or a career,” said Angelique Peterson-Mayberry, DPSCD Board Chair. 

The District has been discussing its challenges with graduation rates over the years. DPSCD’s initial rates were inflated due to the state’s “cleaning” of former DPS students who had dropped out and not enrolled in DPSCD schools. DPSCD’s rate was then later impacted by former Education Achievement Authority (EAA) neighborhood high schools returning to the District. The two neighborhood high schools not showing improvement, Cody and Pershing High Schools, had leadership changes last year and are expected to show improvement this year.  

21-22 4-Year Graduation Rate

 

 

 

Building

20-21

21-22

Change

Detroit Public Schools Community District

64.5

71.1

+6.5

 

 

 

 

Academy of The Americas High School

68.2

79.5

+11.3

Midtown HS of Medicine and Science at Crockett

82.0

86.7

+4.7

Cass Technical High School

94.0

97.1

+3.1

Central High School

44.2

59.3

+15.2

Cody High School

56.6

51.3

-5.3

Communication and Media Arts High School

82.6

90.1

+7.5

Davis Aerospace Technical High School at Golightly

83.3

80.0

-3.3

Denby High School

58.2

74.4

+16.2

Detroit Collegiate Preparatory High School at Northwestern

60.5

62.7

+2.2

Detroit International Academy for Young Women

89.3

100.0

+10.7

Detroit School of Arts

87.3

91.6

+4.3

DPSCD Virtual School

 

66.0

 -

East English Village Preparatory Academy

54.3

62.2

+7.9

Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men

69.6

72.7

+3.2

Henry Ford High School

48.6

58.8

+10.2

Legacy Academy

25.0

36.4

+11.4

Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School

67.9

76.1

+8.3

Mumford High School

51.1

72.2

+21.1

Osborn High School

47.8

56.8

+9.1

Pershing High School

67.2

61.9

-5.4

Renaissance High School

95.1

95.4

+0.2

Southeastern High School

88.6

90.0

+1.4

West Side Academy of Information Technology and Cyber Security

26.8

52.4

+25.6

Western International High School

60.9

71.3

+10.4