As a social worker I spend a lot of time going in and out of Detroit public schools. I see some…read morethings that really make the hair stand up on the back of my neck. And then, occassionally, I see a few gems. This school is one of those gems. UPA and University Prep High School both use project-based learning so that kids can really focus on the things that interest them. All students do regular internships which are supervised by a local field instructor and a teacher (they get school credit for the internship). This gives them a chance to refine their interests and get exposed to the work world. But, a few things to note. UPA is a bit overrated in terms of it's academic rigor. Although it is a world above most of the DPS schools I visit, not all graduates are going to be prepared to start at a mid-range or top tier university. I've seen kids advanced from grade to grade (particularly in math) who really don't have the basics down well enough. And, another important thing to remember about UPA is that their teaching approach does not work for all students. Some kids need a lot more structure and will flounder when given so much academic freedom and responsibility for their own education. Parents of UPA students need to stay in close contact with the teachers and review their student's work on a very regular basis. Overall, this is a great school. The campus is well laid out, the rooms are clean and things are in repair. There's not a lot of violence. The teachers and staff are very good at communicating with parents and they take a personal interest in their students.

I think its good for the city. Nice looking charter school. We went to take my god daughter b-day…read morecupcakes. You sign in and have to call to confirm. They require the kids to do an expedition project every month which is a good thing for kids to do in my opinion helps them to discover something new. You have to stand in a long line of cars just to pick up your kid but that's better than leting them run around and risk someone taking them. Great School Donate today!!!

Known for having late singer songwriter Aaliyah as part of its alumni, the Detroit High School for…read morethe Fine and Performing Arts is a one of a kind public school in Motown. Offering not only general education studies, but more importantly art classes in a variety of mediums, this 9-12th grade school is herald as the best of the best among local public schools. Opened over a decade ago by Denise Darcel Davis, this premiere public school offers students studies in dance, television communications, theater, visual arts and more on top of math, science, English, etc. Students are accepted only on an audition/portfolio basis, so the stakes are high, but definitely worth it. The school moved in early 2000 to its multi-million dollar facility off of Cass Ave in Midtown. For those seeking a one up in the field of art this is the Detroit school to do it in. As an alumni myself I would first recommend attending for the brilliant art teachers and the advantage students receive in their field of study. The school days are a bit longer, but students of DSA receive the advantage, DSA students consistently score higher on Michigan standardized test than any local public school.

During the past year we had an exchange student who attended the Detroit School of the Arts, so…read morethere were lots of opportunities for us to interact with the teachers, staff and other students. Some of the pluses: 1) It's a beautiful campus. The building is new. It's bright and airy. It's very clean. There's a huge stage for preformances. 2) The counseling staff really seem to care about the students. Our student made a lot of adjustments on her class schedule and they were always willing to work with her. 3) The art-related classes are very good and they have a wide variety of options. On the downside: 1) Despite being given such a good opportunity, some of the students just aren't that serious about their art or their academic classes. There was a lot of skipping school to hang out at Wayne State or Starbucks. 2) The building itself is very tall with lots of stairs. If I was a student there I would not be happy about going up and down five or six flights 8-10 times a day. The elevator is only for students with medical disabilities that prevent them from taking the stairs. 3) I got a real shock when the first report card arrived and I saw that our student had a number of skipped classes and more than a dozen tardies. Frankly, I think the school should call you the first time your student misses class or is unually late with no reasonable excuse. I would have liked significantly more communication rather than having to hear about things way after the fact.

I really wasn't supposed to come to Hally Magnet Middle School, but after spending one day at…read moreBeaubien Middle School I knew I had to get out. So after a discussion with the principal, I was able to get into the school the next day. This is one of a few schools in Detroit that you have to take a test to get into, and focuses only on supporting those children who WANT to get an education and learn. I had a great time here, although I only spent two years here instead of three (as most kids did). The teachers were tough and demanding, and it showed in the test scores and exemplary work the students did. Class sizes were small and accommodating, and I left here with a lot of close friends that also went to Renaissance High School and University of Michigan.

Let me start off by saying the church is absolutely beautiful. The priest is so kind and checks in…read moreon classrooms sometimes during the day. Which is absolutely wonderful. The principal Mrs. Bala is the most caring person I know she expresses gratitude in all she does. Also she knows every student's name by heart. The American History teacher is very compassionate. She cares deeply about everyone. The English and Literature teacher has a great understanding for helping young learners. She teaches them how to work hard and educates them accordingly. The Spanish teacher is outstanding she teaches students in new ways. She makes learning fun and makes school exciting. Everything else needs to be better developed or up to date.

St. Mary is an amazing little school in downtown Royal Oak for preschool - grade 8. The teachers…read moreand staff are an exceptional caring team and the families form a wonderful supportive community.

BKB is not your traditional high school. It's a charter school for youth who have been expelled…read morefrom school, have not been engaged in school and are failing, or have experiences with the juvenile justice system and have missed school. As a social worker I've had several students attend this campus and it worked well for each of them. Yes, some of the other students skip class or misbehave, but the students who want to learn have the benefit of working with teachers who really want them to succeed. The accelerated schedule also means that students can catch up on what they have missed, enabling some who wouldn't have been able to to graduate on time. They will accept students with IEPs and are well versed at working with kids who have both learning and behavioral issues.

Let me qualify this review by saying that for the past year I've been quite annoyed by all the Ross…read moreHill Academy high school students who skip class and hang out in the vacant lot behind my house smoking pot. They're loud, rude, and they start fires and then don't put them out. All that being said, when I've complained to the school staff they have responded immediately. If I was rating the elementary and middle school only, they would get three stars. The classes are small (6-8 students) and some of the teachers are very dedicated and experienced. But, they the teachers do struggle with both a lack of resources and strong leadership at the school as well as students who are unmotivated and whose parents are uninvolved. Which is too bad, because it's hard to find a school with such a low student to teacher ratio these days. There's a lot of potential here that's being wasted right now.