Why We Chose a Charter Public School in Metro Detroit

When parents in metro Detroit start searching for the best fit for their child’s education, they’re often drawn to options that feel personal, innovative and supportive. For many families, that journey leads them to a charter public school.

Whether it’s a smaller class size, a unique curriculum or the sense of belonging they find in the school community, parents in metro Detroit are sharing why they chose this path for their children. And it’s not just parents — students and teachers are also opening up about what makes charter public schools stand out. 

But what does the research say? We’ll look at some key facts about Michigan’s charter public schools, including their proven record of quality, innovation and impact. Together, these voices and statistics paint a clear picture of why charter public schools are popular with families.

3 things to know about charter school performance in Michigan

The Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford University studied charter school performance in 29 states, including Michigan. When compared with a “virtual twin” — a student in the same demographic and with similar prior test scores — at a traditional public school, CREDO found:

• In Michigan, a charter school student gains an additional 36 days of learning in English and 24 days in math (nationally, charter school students gain 16 days and 6 days, respectively).
• Higher performing charter schools are those managed by organizations that manage multiple schools, like National Heritage Academies in Michigan.
• Michigan was among the top 10 states in charter school performance.

Macke Raymond, founder and director at Stanford’s CREDO says the findings are “remarkable,” and that other public schools may want to apply demonstrated charter school frameworks to improve outcomes for students, as reported by Michigan’s charter school association, MAPSA.

6 Detroit charter high schools ranked ‘best’ by U.S. News & World Report

Stanford’s results reflect real success stories for Michigan families. In Detroit, some of the best high schools are charter public schools, earning national recognition for their impact.

For the 2024 U.S. News & World Report rankings of the Best High Schools in America, the top six open-enrollment high schools in Detroit are all charter schools. 

Photo credit: Grand Valley State University Charter Schools Office

These rankings, considered the gold standard in education, evaluate schools based on factors like college readiness, state assessment performance, and graduation rates — showcasing the proven quality of Detroit’s charter schools.

The top six schools are:

1. Detroit Edison Public School Academy
2. Cesar Chavez Academy
3. Universal Academy
4. Jalen Rose Leadership Academy
5. Frontier International Academy
6. University Preparatory Academy

Real stories: why families and teachers choose charter public schools

Parents, students and teachers in Michigan’s charter school communities are the ones who can truly explain what makes these schools special, why they chose them and how they’ve made a difference in their lives.

Why parents choose a metro Detroit charter school:

• “Achieve Charter Academy is a small school where kids and teachers are well connected. It’s a free education and a good class of education. What else could you want for your child?” – Uzma Ghayur.
• “Teachers notice when kids are struggling but don’t make them feel inferior. They take the time to work with them. This school is doing these personal things for students who might not be as fortunate, so everyone is on the same playing field.” – Everett Stevenson-Spears on New Paradigm Glazer Academy.

Why students choose to attend a charter school:    

• “I became confident in my ability to be an outspoken student. We had conversations about books and what we were learning — intellectual conversations that I was not able to have anywhere else. I was challenged academically.” – Shamrin Salam on attending Michigan Mathematics and Science Academy.
• “I like using my hands to do stuff and solve problems. When I hear architecture, I think of building and making designs and ideas for how to build things.” – Angel Griffith, on why she selected UPrep Science and Math High School’s engineering pathway.

Why educators choose charter public schools in Michigan:

• “We have students who are determined to succeed here, no matter what is going on behind the scenes in their lives outside of school or what pathway it takes for them to learn.” – Lakeytra Coleman, on teaching at Detroit Premier Academy.
• “We devote all of our efforts to doing what we do and serving the students we serve. We can try new things because we are small and the biggest advantage is that we can be all about just one mission” – Terrence George, on leading the Covenant High Schools in Detroit.

Content sponsored by Grand Valley State University Charter Schools Office. Learn more at gvsu.edu/cso. Find more articles like this — and learn more about charter schools near you — at Metro Parent’s Guide to Michigan Charter Schools.

from Metro Parent https://ift.tt/9eYB3CK