Detroit HS Graduation Rate Increases, Dropouts Decline

DETROIT — The high school graduation rate in Detroit Public Schools for the 2021-22 school year increased 6.5 percentage points, from 64.5 percent to 71.1 percent, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

In addition, the district's 4-year dropout rate also declined by 0.6 percent from 14.5 percent to 13.8 percent, according to the report.

The district outpaced the state in both categories: the district's 6.5 percent increase in graduation outweighed the state's increase of 0.5 percent to 81 percent, and while the district saw a decline in dropouts, the state saw a 0.5 percent increase from 7.7 percent to 8.2 percent, according to the report.

"The improvement in graduation rates is a testament to our continued commitment to improve the high school experience for our students," said Dr. Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent, of Detroit Public Schools. "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."

The graduation rate within the district increased in 20 of 23 high schools, with the these five high schools earning the greatest improvement:

• West Side Academy: Increased 25.6 percent from 26.8 percent to 52.4 percent
• Mumford High School: Increased 21.1 percent from 51.1 percent to 72.2 percent
• Denby High School: Increased 16.2 percent from 58.2 percent to 74.4 percent
• Central High School: Increased 15.2 percent from 44.2 percent to 59.3 percent
• Legacy Academy: Increased 11.4 percent from 25 percent to 36.4 percent

"Graduation rates are one of our most important Strategic Plan metrics," said Angelique Peterson-Mayberry, DPSCD Board Chair. "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."

Here are the other Detroit high schools that saw their graduation rate increase in the 2021-22 school year, according to the report:

• Academy of the Americas High School: Increased 11.3 percent from 68.2 percent to 79.5 percent
• Detroit International Academy for Young Women: Increased 10.7 percent from 89.3 percent to 100 percent
• Western International High School: Increased 10.4 percent from 60.9 percent to 71.3 percent
• Henry Ford High School: Increased 10.2 percent from 48.6 percent to 58.8 percent
• Osborn High School: Increased 9.1 percent from 47.8 percent to 56.8 percent
• Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School: Increased 8.3 percent from 67.9 percent to 76.1 percent
• East English Village Preparatory Academy: Increased 7.9 percent from 54.3 percent to 62.2 percent
• Communication and Media Arts High School: Increased 7.5 percent from 82.6 percent to 90.1 percent.
• Midtown HS of Medicine and Science at Crockett: Increased 4.7 percent from 82 percent to 86.7 percent
• Detroit School of Arts: Increased 4.3 percent from 87.3 to 91.6 percent
• Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men: Increased 3.2 percent from 69.6 percent to 72.7 percent
• Cass Technical High School: Increased 3.1 percent from 94 percent to 97.1 percent
• Detroit Collegiate Preparatory High School at Northwestern: Increased 2.2 percent from 60.5 percent to 62.7 percent
• Southeastern High School: Increased 1.4 percent from 88.6 percent to 90 percent
• Renaissance High School: Increased 0.3 percent from 95.1 percent to 95.4 percent
• DPSCD Virtual School: Graduation rate 66 percent

Here are the three high schools that saw their graduation rate drop in the 2021-22 school year, according to the report:

• Pershing High School: Declined 5.4 percent from 67.2 percent to 61.9 percent
• Cody High School: Declined 5.3 percent from 56.6 percent to 51.3 percent
• Davis Aerospace Technical High School: Declined 3.3 percent from 83.3 percent to 80 percent