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It may sound theoretically like a good idea: Close failing schools and let students find better ones. That may be a problem in Detroit.
Here's why:
The state School Reform Office has an aggressive school closure plan targeting 38 schools in the state, 25 of which are in Detroit. The state can shut schools that rank in the bottom 5% for academic performance for multiple years in a row.
A final decision from the state will come in late February or early March. If officials decide closure of certain schools would cause hardships for students, they could take other action including appointing a CEO to run the school, replacing staff or converting to a charter school.
In Detroit, few schools have test scores significantly higher than the schools facing closure, writes Erin Einhorn of Chalkbeat Detroit.
In fact, there are only 19 Detroit schools with scores above the bottom quarter, many of which are full to capacity, Einhorn reports. Just two of the higher-performing schools are high schools — and neither is likely to take many new students.
“Honestly, we are always full and we have a full waiting list,” said Adnan Aabed, the principal of Frontier International Academy, a Detroit charter school that last year posted test scores in the 39th percentile.
These Michigan schools are on the chopping block:
• Dream Academy, Benton Harbor Area Schools
• International Academy at Hull, Benton Harbor Area Schools
• STEAM Academy at MLK, Benton Harbor Area Schools
• Martin G. Atkins Elementary School, Bridgeport-Spaulding Schools
• Ann Arbor Trail Magnet School, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Bow Elementary-Middle School, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• J.E. Clark Preparatory Academy, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Detroit Collegiate Prep H.S. @ Northwestern, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Detroit Institute of Technology at Cody, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Durfee Elementary-Middle School, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Fisher Magnet Upper Academy, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Gompers Elementary-Middle School, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Henderson Academy, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Marquette Elementary-Middle School, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Mason Elementary School, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Osborn Academy of Mathematics, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Osborn College Preparatory Academy, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Osborn Evergreen Academy of Design and Alternative Energy, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Sampson Academy, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Thirkell Elementary School, Detroit Public Schools Community District
• Burns Elementary-Middle School, Education Achievement Authority
• Denby High School, Education Achievement Authority
• Ford High School, Education Achievement Authority
• Law Elementary School, Education Achievement Authority
• Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary-Middle School, Education Achievement Authority
• Mumford High School, Education Achievement Authority
• Pershing High School, Education Achievement Authority
• Southeastern High School, Education Achievement Authority
• Kelly Middle School, East Detroit Public Schools
• Washington Writers’ Academy, Kalamazoo Public Schools
• Woodward School for Technology and Research, Kalamazoo Public Schools
• Michigan Technical Academy (elementary), charter school, Detroit
• Muskegon Heights Academy, charter school with multiple campuses
• Pontiac High School, Pontiac School District
• Whitman Elementary School, Pontiac School District
• Ann Visger K-5 Preparatory Academy, River Rouge Schools
• Jessie Loomis School, Saginaw Public Schools
• Saginaw High School, Saginaw Public Schools
