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Detroit Prep

Detroit Prep, nominated by Diverse Charter Schools Coalition and NewSchools Venture Fund, is an elementary/middle school in Detroit, Michigan, that describes itself as a public charter school serving learners from a primarily urban area.

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Location Detroit, Michigan

Governance Public Charter School

Grades Elementary, Middle

Students 414

Locale Urban

Interim Head of School Sarah Paone

Demographics

Percentage of students*

—

English Learners

82%

Free/Reduced Lunch

15%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black 59%

American Indian/Alaska Native —

Asian 3%

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —

Hispanic or Latino 3%

White 29%

2+ Races —

Why Detroit Prep was nominated

Detroit Prep is a new member of the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition and is guided by these four principles: Our work is active. We learn by doing and getting our hands dirty. Students are scientists, urban planners, historians, and activists, investigating real community problems and collaborating with peers to develop creative, actionable solutions. Adults are active guides of student learning and active members of their professional learning community. Our work is inclusive and equitable. Students and adults celebrate the diverse backgrounds of their peers. School leaders work to recruit and attract a population of families and faculty that represents different socio-economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. Our work is excellent. Students at all levels are pushed and supported to do more than they think they can. Excellence is expected in the quality of their work and thinking. School leaders, teachers, students, and families share rigorous expectations for quality work, achievement, and behavior. Our work is reflective. Students and adults reflect as they triumph and as they stumble. Students and adults offer direct and sensitive feedback to their peers. Trust, respect, responsibility, and joy in learning permeate the school culture., At Detroit Prep, our learning approach focuses on developing and nurturing the the whole child through multiple dimensions of student achievement: a commitment to mastery of knowledge and skills, character development, high-quality student work, and family and community engagement. Our unique approach is grounded in hands-on, collaborative learning with a backbone of social-emotional curriculum.

Student experience design

Students develop a strong sense of belonging and identity, develop habits of character, and apply their learning to the broader world through complex and authentic learning.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills
5+ years

Competency/mastery-based Education
5+ years

Project-based Learning
5+ years

All Practices

Advancement On Mastery

Student Advisories

Anti-racist Practices

Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning

Assessments For Deeper Learning

Co-leadership

Community And Workforce Partnerships

Family And Community Support Services

Culturally Responsive Practices

Disaggregated Data On Student Participation

Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles

Grading Policies Focus On Mastery

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

Interoperable Data From Multiple Technologies

Mental Health Services

1:1 Mentoring

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

No Tracked Classes

Peer To Peer Support

Performance Based Assessment

Reallocation Of Resources For Students Most In Need

Restorative Practices

SEL Curriculum

SEL Integration School-wide

Student-led Conferences

Students Access Their Own Data

Student-led Goal Setting

Self-paced Learning

Trauma-informed Practices

Tutoring

Universal Design For Learning

key reasons for innovating

Improve academic achievement

Increase student agency

Date Updated: 4/1/2025

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.