Detroit/ Family & Kids
Published on August 13, 2019
Public high schools in Detroit: What are this year's top rated and most improved?Photo: Unsplash

How do the public high schools in Detroit stack up?

We analyzed newly released data from Niche.com, which incorporates comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews to help you choose the right school, to find out how schools in your area are performing and which have made the biggest leaps over the past year.

Western International High School's overall rating improved the most among its peers in Detroit, rising from a C- to a C, according to data from Niche.

For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 1500 Scotten St., enrolls 1,878 students. Western International High School serves a diverse population: 72% of students identify as Hispanic and 20% identify as black. Niche gave the school mixed grades: C- on an A-D scale for academics, C+ for administration and C- for clubs and activities.

The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.

Academically, 11% of Western International High School's students scored proficient or above in math, and 34% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 13% in math and 24% in reading.

It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Medicine & Community Health Academy at Cody saw its overall rating increase from a D+ to a C-. The school is located at 18445 Cathedral St. and is much smaller, currently serving 387 students.

Niche gave Medicine & Community Health Academy at Cody mixed grades: C- on an A-D scale for academics, C- for administration and C+ for clubs and activities. Its latest math proficiency was 8%, and reading proficiency was 22%. The school's upswing is notable since it serves a less-affluent population, with 80% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

While some public high schools are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:

  • Cass Technical High School, with an overall rating of B+.
  • Renaissance High School, with a B rating overall.
  • Douglass Academy for Young Men, rated C overall.

This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.