Education and schools in Detroit

Detroit's public school district is the biggest in the state of Michigan, serving some 50,000 students. There are also many private and international schools. All of these have varying standards of education and facilities, ranging from excellent to substandard.

Budget, proximity and the specific needs of the individual student will dictate their choice of school, so it’s worth doing some research before moving.

For those who are looking for curricula in line with religious teachings, there are many institutions affiliated with different faiths, such as Catholicism, Islam and the Lutheran Church, among others. Additionally, there are Waldorf and Montessori schools in Detroit.

Public schools in Detroit

Unfortunately, the city is extremely polarised when it comes to income, and this directly affects schools. The metro generally follows the usual rule of thumb when it comes to school excellence and performance, with institutions in the wealthier areas faring better than those in more impoverished neighbourhoods, such as those in parts of the inner city.

Children attend a public school according to their residential area, but there are instances where schools may accept students from other catchment areas.

Charter schools

Charter schools are government-funded institutions that operate independently, with more flexible curricula. These schools are extremely popular in Detroit, having the highest enrolment rates in the United States behind only Philadelphia. Indeed, there are now more learners attending charter schools than public schools, with results and performance favouring the former.

International schools in Detroit

A popular choice for expat parents moving to Detroit is to send their children to an international school. There are numerous institutions that follow a foreign curriculum such as the British schooling system, and some schools that offer the International Baccalaureate.

Special-needs education in Detroit

Children with special needs, such as learning or developmental issues, are well catered for in Detroit when it comes to inclusive and specialised education. Disabled or differently-abled children are granted learning support, emotional support, life-skills support or multiple-disabilities support.

Outside of the public school system, the city also has specialised institutions that cater to specific disabilities such as schools for the deaf, the blind, and other specialised schools.

Tutoring in Detroit

Parents in Detroit have the option of additional tutoring. This is helpful in cases where children need assistance in specific subject areas such as English, maths or science, or when studying for important entrance exams such as the SATs. It could also be beneficial to children new to the city to help build confidence in their new learning environment. Some of the top tutoring companies in Detroit include The Tutoring Center and Tailor Made Learning. Parents who don't want to work through a tutoring service will find that there are also a number of private tutors in the city ranging from retired teachers to university students.