Detroit Public Schools Community District

{{Short description|Public school system of Detroit, Michigan}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2013}} {{Infobox school district | name = Detroit Public Schools Community District | logo = 225px|center | type = Public | budget = US$ 776,634,458 (2019-20)<ref>{{cite web |title=FY 2019-2020 Approved Budget Detail Detroit Public Schools Community District |url=https://www.detroitk12.org/cms/lib/MI50000060/Centricity/Domain/4019/Annual%20FY%20Budget%20Detail_Final.pdf |website=detroitk12.org/ |access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref> | established = {{start date and age|1842|12|4}}<ref name="freep.com">{{cite web|title=This week in Michigan history: Detroit Public Schools is founded in 1842|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20130217/NEWS01/302170158/|work=Detroit Free Press|access-date=20 October 2013}}</ref> <!-- |region = US-MI --> | superintendent = Nikolai Vitti | teachers = 1,905 (2018–20)<ref name=OurSchools/> | staff = | students = 50,016 (2019–20)<ref name=OurSchools>{{cite web |title=Our Schools - At A Glance |url=https://www.mischooldata.org/Legislative2/LegislativeDashboard4.aspx |website=MI School Data |access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref> | conference = Detroit Public School League (DPSL) | free_label2 = Number of schools | free_text2 = 106<ref>{{cite web |title=About DPSCD |url=https://www.detroitk12.org/domain/148 |website=Detroit Public Schools Community District |access-date=6 January 2019}}</ref> | free_label3 = Teachers' unions | free_text3 = Detroit Federation of Teachers<ref>{{cite web|title=Detroit Federation of Teachers Homepage |url=http://www.dft231.com/ |access-date=2008-10-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923213457/http://www.dft231.com/ |archive-date=September 23, 2008 }}</ref> | location = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | country = | website = {{URL|https://www.detroitk12.org/}} }}

'''Detroit Public Schools Community District''' ('''DPSCD''') is a public school district that serves Detroit, Michigan, and high school students in Highland Park, Michigan. The district, which replaced the original '''Detroit Public Schools''' ('''DPS''') in 2016, provides services to approximately 50,000 students,<ref name="headcount">{{cite news |last1=Mack |first1=Julie |title=Michigan's 50 largest school districts in 2017-18 |url=https://www.mlive.com/expo/erry-2018/03/81edb3f4df/michigans_50_largest_school_di.html |access-date=6 January 2019 |work=MLive.com |date=22 March 2018}}</ref> making it the largest school district in the state. The district has its headquarters in the Fisher Building of the New Center area of Detroit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.detroitk12.org/schools/docs/school_location_map.pdf |title=School Location Map |publisher=Detroit Public Schools |access-date=November 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730073000/http://www.detroitk12.org/schools/docs/school_location_map.pdf |archive-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://detroitk12.org/content/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4.-Kettering-High-School-Kettering-West-Wing.pdf |title=Fisher Building – 14th Floor 3011 W. Grand Boulevard Detroit, MI 48202-2710 |publisher=Detroit Public Schools |access-date=November 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904162617/http://detroitk12.org/content/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4.-Kettering-High-School-Kettering-West-Wing.pdf |archive-date=September 4, 2014}}</ref>

The school district has experienced extensive financial difficulties over a series of years. From 1999 to 2005, and from 2009 to the reorganization in 2016, the district was overseen by a succession of state-appointed emergency financial managers.<ref>{{cite news|author=Ann Zaniewski|title=After 6 years of state control, DPS deficit skyrockets|url=http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2015/07/02/detroit-public-schools-deficit-spikes/29620019/|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=July 3, 2015}}</ref>

==History== {{More citations needed section|date=December 2010}} The district was established in 1842,<ref name="freep.com"/> and has grown with the city. Some of the schools in the district began as part of other school districts, including Greenfield Township and Springwells Township districts, as the areas these districts covered were annexed to the city of Detroit.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}}

The district operated schools serving Detroit's large immigrant population including Italians, Poles, and Jews as well as African Americans who fled the south. Everett and its principal M. M. Rose served a predominantly African American school population. Bishop School served many Jewish students as well as Africans Americans such as Cora Brown.

In 1917, the board membership was changed from ward-based to at-large elections.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}}

In 1999, the Michigan Legislature removed the locally elected board of education amid allegations of mismanagement and replaced it with a 7-member reform board. Six board members were appointed by the mayor and one appointed by the state superintendent of public instruction.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-act-451-of-1976.pdf |title=The Revised School Code: Act 451 of 1976 |access-date=May 24, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006014244/http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-act-451-of-1976.pdf |archive-date=October 6, 2016}}</ref> The elected board of education returned following a city referendum in 2005. The first election of the new eleven member board of education, with four chosen at-large and seven by district, occurred on November 8, 2005.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} At the time the district's enrollment was slowly increasing and it had a $100 million surplus <!--$100 million positive fund balance-->.<ref name=Guyettesurplustodeficit>Guyette, Curt. "[http://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/after-six-years-and-four-state-appointed-managers-detroit-public-schools-debt-is-deeper-than-ever/Content?oid=2302010 After six years and four state-appointed managers, Detroit Public Schools' debt has grown even deeper] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225213543/http://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/after-six-years-and-four-state-appointed-managers-detroit-public-schools-debt-is-deeper-than-ever/Content?oid=2302010 |date=December 25, 2016 }}" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160125214853/http://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/after-six-years-and-four-state-appointed-managers-detroit-public-schools-debt-is-deeper-than-ever/Content?oid=2302010&showFullText=true Archive]). ''Metro Times''. February 25, 2015. Retrieved on January 21, 2016.</ref>

Before the district occupied the Fisher Building, its headquarters were in the Macabees Building in Midtown Detroit.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20000510145100/http://www.detroit.k12.mi.us/contact/index.htm "Contact Us"]. Detroit Public Schools. May 10, 2000. Retrieved on November 7, 2009.</ref> The district paid the owner of the Fisher Building $24.1 million in 2002 so the district could occupy five floors in the building. This was more than the owner of the Fisher Building paid to buy the building one year earlier.<ref>{{cite web |author= Oosting, Jonathan |url= http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2009/09/audit_detroit_public_schools_o.html |title= Audit: Detroit Public Schools overpaid millions for real estate after middle-man markups |publisher= MLive.com. |date=September 24, 2009 |access-date=2009-11-07}}</ref> The district's emergency financial manager, Robert Bobb, said in 2009 that he was investigating how the school board agreed to the lease in the Fisher Building.<ref>{{cite web |author=Duggan, Daniel |url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20091104/FREE/911049989 |title=Freman Hendrix asked about Detroit Public Schools' $13 million lease in 2001 |publisher=Crain's Detroit Business |date=November 4, 2009 |access-date=November 7, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091107083802/http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20091104/FREE/911049989 |archive-date=November 7, 2009 |df=mdy }} ()</ref> Reginald Turner, who served on Detroit School Board from 2000 to 2003, said that he was told that it would be less expensive to occupy the Fisher Building than it would to remodel the Maccabees Building.<ref>{{cite web |author=Duggan, Daniel |url=http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20091028/FREE/910289978 |title=Construction profits for Detroit Public Schools' projects excessive, Bobb says |publisher=Crain's Detroit Business |date=October 28, 2009 |access-date=November 7, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110061415/http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20091028/FREE/910289978 |archive-date=January 10, 2010 |df=mdy }} ()</ref>

In November 2004 an election in Detroit was held since the state takeover was sunsetting. On a 66%<!--2 to 1--> margin the voters agreed to return to having an elected school board. The board was selected in November 2005 and began its term in January 2006. The final full year that the board was in full control was the 2007–2008 fiscal year. By that time DPS had a $200 million deficit. The district's deficit was $369.5 million by the end of the 2007–2008 fiscal year, and its long-term debt was $1.5 billion.<ref name=Guyettesurplustodeficit/>

In January 2009 Governor of Michigan Jennifer Granholm installed Robert Bobb as the emergency manager of DPS. She used Public Act 72 to appoint an emergency manager.<ref name=Guyettesurplustodeficit/> In May 2011, Roy Roberts was appointed DPS's emergency manager by Governor Rick Snyder.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chambers |first=Jennifer |date=November 28, 2011 |title=Official revives DPS fight |url=https://detroitnews.newsbank.com/doc/news/13D8E2066AD06F18?pdate=2011-11-28 |access-date=December 5, 2011 |newspaper=The Detroit News}}</ref> By the time Roberts was appointed the DPS deficit was $686.5 million.<ref name=Guyettesurplustodeficit/> In September 2011, a new statewide district, Education Achievement Authority, was to take over some of Detroit's failing schools as selected by the emergency manager<ref>{{cite news |last=Chambers |first=Jennifer |date=November 18, 2011 |title=Forum touts district for failing schools |url=https://detroitnews.newsbank.com/doc/news/13D8E38257EC8AD0?pdate=2011-11-18 |access-date=December 5, 2011 |publisher=The Detroit News}}</ref> with up to 16 expected.<ref>{{cite news|last=Higgins|first=Lori|title=State district for failing schools may expand past DPS earlier than planned|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20111205/NEWS05/112050321/State-district-failing-schools-may-expand-past-DPS-earlier-than-planned|access-date=December 5, 2011|newspaper=Detroit Free Press |date=December 4, 2011}}</ref> The deficit was $763.7 million by the end of the 2013–2014 fiscal year, and at that time its long-term debt was $2.1 billion.<ref name=Guyettesurplustodeficit/> On January 13, 2015, Darnell Earley was appointed as the new emergency manager for the school district by Snyder.<ref name=ml2>{{cite news|title=Jerry Ambrose named Flint's fourth emergency manager as Darnell Earley heads to Detroit|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/01/jerry_ambrose_tapped_as_next_e.html|access-date=January 13, 2015|work=The Flint Journal|publisher=Mlive Media Group|date=January 13, 2015}}</ref>

Highland Park Community High School of Highland Park Schools closed in 2015, and at that time DPS assumed responsibility for high school education of students in Highland Park, Michigan.<ref>Lewis, Sharon D. "[http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2015/05/28/highland-park-high-school-closing/28117949/ Highland Park's high school to close as enrollment dips]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150623023517/http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2015/05/28/highland-park-high-school-closing/28117949/ Archive]). ''The Detroit News''. May 28, 2015. Retrieved on June 23, 2015. "Weatherspoon said high school students from Highland Park can enroll in nearby Detroit Public Schools, another neighboring district, a charter school or the state-run Education Achievement Authority. DPS will be the students' home district."</ref>

From 1999 to 2016 the State of Michigan controlled DPS for all except three years, when the elected DPS board was in control.<ref>Gross, Allie. "[http://www.metrotimes.com/Blogs/archives/2016/01/13/detroit-news-editorial-board-writes-idiotic-column-about-detroit-public-schools-sick-outs Detroit News editorial board writes idiotic column about Detroit Public Schools sick outs]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160116120525/http://www.metrotimes.com/Blogs/archives/2016/01/13/detroit-news-editorial-board-writes-idiotic-column-about-detroit-public-schools-sick-outs Archive]). ''Metro Times''. January 13, 2016. Retrieved on January 22, 2016. Information is in [http://media1.fdncms.com/metrotimes/imager/u/blog/2390244/dps_-_a_governance_history_1994-present_.jpg?cb=1452782479 this image] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160128192203/http://media1.fdncms.com/metrotimes/imager/u/blog/2390244/dps_-_a_governance_history_1994-present_.jpg?cb=1452782479 Archive])<!--Done so people don't do a text search and not find the information--></ref>

By January 2016 various DPS teachers made complaints about health and safety issues at DPS schools.<ref>Ferretti, Christine. "[http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2016/01/13/detroit-school-health-safety-inspections/78764026/ Duggan unveils plan to inspect all DPS schools]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160126144115/http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2016/01/13/detroit-school-health-safety-inspections/78764026/ Archive]). ''The Detroit News''. January 13, 2016. Retrieved on January 21, 2016.</ref> DPS teachers were striking in various "sickouts" that resulted in schools closing.<ref>"[https://www.npr.org/2016/01/14/462915697/detroit-public-school-teachers-turn-to-sickouts-in-protest Detroit Public School Teachers Turn To 'Sickouts' In Protest]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160121111006/http://www.npr.org/2016/01/14/462915697/detroit-public-school-teachers-turn-to-sickouts-in-protest Archive]). Michigan Public Radio at National Public Radio. January 14, 2016. Updated on January 15, 2016 Retrieved on January 21, 2016.</ref> At that time DPS staff members were uploading images of poor conditions at DPS schools to Twitter, using the tag @teachDetroit.<ref>DeVito, Lee. "[http://www.metrotimes.com/Blogs/archives/2016/01/14/detroit-teachers-are-using-twitter-to-document-poor-school-conditions]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160122012524/http://www.metrotimes.com/Blogs/archives/2016/01/14/detroit-teachers-are-using-twitter-to-document-poor-school-conditions Archive]). ''Metro Times''. January 14, 2016. Retrieved on January 21, 2016.</ref>

In 2016 a hearing was scheduled for Norman Shy of Franklin, owner of Allstate Sales, a DPS vendor of school supplies.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Baldas|first1=Tresa|title=Vendor in DPS corruption case lived like a king|url=http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2016/04/17/vendor-dps-corruption-case-lived-like-king/82767944/|access-date=18 May 2016|work=Detroit Free Press|publisher=Detroit Free Press|date=28 April 2016}}</ref> The associated court filings reflect a total of 12 DPS principals and 1 administrator allegedly conspired with Shy in a scheme to fill their own wallets by approving invoices for supplies the schools never received. The alleged corruption started in 2002 and did not end until January 2015. For over 13 years, Shy billed DPS $5 million with $2.7 million feeding the corruption ring. The principals and administrator received kickbacks of more than $900,000.<ref>{{cite news|title=Plea Hearing Set For Vendor In Detroit Schools Bribery Case|url=http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2016/04/07/plea-hearing-set-for-vendor-in-detroit-schools-bribery-case/|access-date=18 May 2016|work=Associated Press & WWJ-TV|publisher=CBS Broadcasting Inc.|date=7 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=US District Court Eastern District of Michigan Southern Division|url=https://cbsdetroit.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/flowers.pdf|website=cbsdetroit.files.wordpress.com|access-date=18 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006014159/https://cbsdetroit.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/flowers.pdf|archive-date=October 6, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2016 the Michigan Legislature created the Detroit Public Schools Community District to replace the original Detroit Public Schools, which exists to repay debts. By September 2023, there students were 51,000 students enrolled in the district.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-11 |title=Detroit school district starts the new year with another enrollment drop |url=https://www.chalkbeat.org/detroit/2023/9/11/23869201/detroit-public-schools-enrollment-attendance-2023/ |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=Chalkbeat |language=en}}</ref> The district has an elected school board.<ref>{{cite news|author=Zaniewski, Ann|url=http://www.freep.com/story/news/education/2017/01/11/detroit-school-board/96452920/|title=New Detroit school board takes reins of district|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=2017-01-11|access-date=2017-04-30}}</ref>

==Student achievement== [[File:Cass Technical High School 2010.jpg|thumb|Cass Technical High School]] [[File:DetroitSchoolOfArts.jpg|thumb|Detroit School of Arts]]

=== National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) === In 2007, ''Education Week'' published study that claimed that Detroit Public School's graduation rate was 24.9%.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/06/12/40gradprofiles.h26.html |access-date=2014-06-03 |df=mdy |title=Graduation Profiles - Education Week |journal=Education Week |date=June 12, 2007 }}</ref> Groups including state and local officials said that the study failed to take into account high school students who leave the district for charter schools, other school districts or who move out of the area. Detroit Public Schools claim that in 2005–2006 the graduation rate was 68 percent and expected it to hold constant in 2006–2007.<ref>Shultz, Marissa and Wilkerson, Greg (June 13, 2007). [https://detroitnews.newsbank.com/doc/news/119C4A38D3AF1BB8?pdate=2007-06-13 "Report: DPS has 25% graduation rate"]. ''Detroit News''. Retrieved on August 8, 2010.</ref><ref>Mrozowski, Jennifer (June 5, 2008). [https://detroitnews.newsbank.com/doc/news/12139B340E54BF38?pdate=2008-06-05 "Detroit graduation rate is the worst"]. ''Detroit News''. Retrieved August 8, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://detroitk12.org/news/article/1605/ Study on District's graduation rate is wrong | Detroit Public Schools<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215031323/http://detroitk12.org/news/article/1605/ |date=December 15, 2010 }}</ref> On February 14, 2009, the ''Detroit Free Press'' reported that United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan had concern over the quality of education Detroit children were receiving. A spokesman later stated that Duncan had no specific plans for Detroit. The students in Detroit's public schools perennially score at the bottom compared to other large urban school systems.<ref>See ''Detroit Free Press'', December 19, 2013. {{cite web |url=http://www.freep.com/article/20131218/NEWS01/312180105/Detroit%20Public%20Schools%20Nation's%20Report%20Card |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-02-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501041403/http://www.freep.com/article/20131218/NEWS01/312180105/Detroit%20Public%20Schools%20Nation%27s%20Report%20Card |archive-date=May 1, 2015 |df=mdy }}</ref>

Cass Technical High School, Renaissance High School, and Detroit School of Arts rank highly both statewide and nationally. However, at many schools some students still do not meet adequate yearly academic progress requirements.<ref>[http://www.detroit.k12.mi.us/schools/ayp/2AYP%20Not%20Met%20-%2004-05.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070925233507/http://www.detroit.k12.mi.us/schools/ayp/2AYP%20Not%20Met%20-%2004-05.pdf|date=September 25, 2007}}</ref> Students that fail to meet those requirements struggle in both language and mathematics.

A team of DPS students from Western International High School and Murray-Wright High School took second place out of 552 teams from 25 countries in a robotics competition in Atlanta, Georgia. DPS students, most notably Bates Academy students, did well at the 42nd annual Academic Olympics in Eatonton, Georgia, winning many honors. The Duffield elementary and middle school chess teams both finished first in the 2007 statewide competition, and performed well in the national competition. At a previous Annual National Academic Games Olympics, DPS students won 25 individual and 20 team first place awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michigancitizen.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=75&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1070&hn=michigancitizen&he=.com |title=The Michigan Citizen |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080923062506/http%3A//michigancitizen%2Ecom/default%2Easp?sourceid%3D%26smenu%3D75%26twindow%3DDefault%26mad%3DNo%26sdetail%3D%26wpage%3D%26skeyword%3D%26sidate%3D%26ccat%3D%26ccatm%3D%26restate%3D%26restatus%3D%26reoption%3D%26retype%3D%26repmin%3D%26repmax%3D%26rebed%3D%26rebath%3D%26subname%3D%26pform%3D%26sc%3D1070%26hn%3Dmichigancitizen%26he%3D%2Ecom |archive-date=September 23, 2008 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.detroit.k12.mi.us/news/showNews.php?id=1529 DPS News Online<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525060953/http://www.detroit.k12.mi.us/news/showNews.php?id=1529 |date=May 25, 2009 }}</ref>

===Charter schools=== Detroit has a public charter school system with about 54,000 Detroit students (2009–10).<ref name=charter>Hing, Julianne. "[http://colorlines.com/archives/2010/03/45_dps_schools_to_close_where_have_all_of_detroits_students_gone.html 45 Detroit Schools to Close: Where Have All The Students Gone?] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201112018/http://colorlines.com/archives/2010/03/45_dps_schools_to_close_where_have_all_of_detroits_students_gone.html |date=February 1, 2015 }}" ''ColorLines''. Wednesday March 17, 2010.</ref> When charter school and Detroit Public Schools enrollments are combined, the total number of children in public schools in Detroit has increased. If growth trends continue, Detroit's charter schools enrollment will outpace the Detroit Public Schools by 2015.<ref name=charter/> Officials at the Detroit Public Schools and Detroit Federation of Teachers oppose the expansion of charter schools.

The Thompson Educational Foundation financed a new University Preparatory Academy High School, and provides yearly scholarships on condition of meeting student performance goals. Follow up studies of the University Prep Academy class of 2007 shows that at least 90% went on to college, 83% of those who attended a four-year university re-enrolled for a second year, and 57% of those who attended a two-year college re-enrolled for a second year, beating national re-enrollment averages.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news |url= http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090223/SCHOOLS/902230323/1026 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130121101741/http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090223/SCHOOLS/902230323/1026 |url-status= dead |archive-date= January 21, 2013 |title= Charter's grads staying in college |author= Jennifer Mrozowski |newspaper= The Detroit News |date= February 23, 2009 |access-date= 2010-01-18 }}</ref> However, these scores are below high performing DHS schools with selective enrollment such as Bates Academy, Burton International and Renaissance High School.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

There have been significant calls for the Detroit Public Schools to cooperate more with charters, including renting unused schools to charters. In May 2008, the DPS board renewed contracts with six charter schools for two years. DPS leases some closed school buildings to charter school operators.<ref name=autogenerated4>{{cite web|first=Diane|last=Bukowski|title=Eliminate debt to state, not teachers: DPS announces $45 million deficit|publisher=Michigan Citizen|url= http://michigancitizen.com/default.asp?sdetail=6066 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20110725183331/http://michigancitizen.com/default.asp?sdetail=6066 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 2011-07-25 |access-date=2008-05-31}}</ref>

==Leadership== [[File:Fisher Building Detroit.jpg|thumb|DPS is headquartered in the Fisher Building in New Center]]

===Superintendent=== {{See main|List of superintendents of Detroit Public Schools}} In March 2007, the DPS board removed Superintendent William Coleman and replaced him with Connie Calloway. Lamont Satchel was named as Interim Superintendent. Coleman was still paid for the remainder of his contract.<ref>{{cite news |title=FBI Investigates DPS over funds |url=https://detroitnews.newsbank.com/doc/news/12243115B1F4BDF8?pdate=2008-07-29 |access-date=2009-03-14 |work=The Detroit News}} </ref>

Connie Calloway was removed after 18 months after accusations by the school board that she was behaving unprofessionally and exercising poor judgment. She later won a lawsuit for wrongful termination, and termination without due process in retaliation for filing a whistle-blowing lawsuit when the treasurer reported ongoing misappropriation of more than 77 million dollars per year in funds intended for the children of Detroit.<ref>{{cite news |title=Detroit School Board settles lawsuit to former superintendent |url=https://detroitnews.newsbank.com/doc/news/13D8D74FD3B063D8?pdate=2009-03-09 |access-date=2009-03-14 |work=The Detroit News}} </ref>

Past superintendents include Warren E. Bow, Kenneth S. Burnley, Charles Ernest Chadsey, Duane Doty, and John M. B. Sill.

===Emergency financial manager=== {{see further|Financial emergency in Michigan}}

The District was under a state-appointed Emergency Manager from 2009 to 2017. The Emergency Manager has powers to make unilateral changes. All financial decisions have been made by the Emergency Manager.

From 2009 to 2011, DPS finances were managed by Robert Bobb who was appointed by former Governor Jennifer Granholm,<ref name="Detroit Free Press 2009"/> and from 2011 to January 2015, by Roy Roberts who was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder. In January 2015, Governor Snyder appointed Darnell Earley as Roberts' successor.<ref name=ml2/> Earley resigned in February 2016<ref>{{cite web|title=Gov. Rick Snyder: Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager Darnell Earley to leave|url=http://www.michigan.gov/snyder/0,4668,7-277-57577_57657-375241--,00.html|website=Michigan.gov}}</ref> in the wake of criticism of his decision, when he was Emergency Manager over Flint, Michigan, to switch that city's water supply to the Flint River, resulting in the Flint water crisis.

As of March 2016, financial matters are under the control of a Transition Manager appointed by Governor Snyder, retired bankruptcy judge Steven Rhodes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gov. Rick Snyder appoints former Detroit bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes to lead Detroit Public Schools|url=http://www.michigan.gov/snyder/0,4668,7-277-57577_57657-377780--,00.html|website=Michigan.gov}}</ref>

Nikolai Vitti was appointed as Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District on May 23, 2017, on a five-year contract. In his first year, Vitti worked closely with the Detroit Board of Education to implement a 100-day plan that culminated with the development of a new Strategic Plan that focuses on raising student achievement, transforming the district's culture, improving staffing, developing the whole child, and ensuring financial responsibility. Before arriving in Detroit, Vitti led Duval County Public Schools (DCPS), the 20th largest school district in the nation with approximately 130,000 enrolled students in 200 schools, and a fiscal budget of $1.7 billion. During his four and a half years at DCPS, the district ranked among the first to fourth highest performing urban districts in the nation on the National Assessment for Education Progress.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.detroitk12.org/superintendent|title=Superintendent / Office of Superintendent}}</ref>

===Current Board of Education===

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Member<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Board of Education |url=https://www.detroitk12.org/Page/15200 |publisher=Detroit Public Schools Community District |access-date=November 9, 2021}}</ref> ! Position ! In office since |- | Angelique Peterson-Mayberry | President | 2017 |- | Deborah Hunter-Harvill, Ed.D. | Vice President | 2017 |- | Misha Stallworth | Secretary | 2017 |- | Sonya Mays | Treasurer | 2017 |- | Sherry Gay-Dagnogo | | 2021 |- | Georgia Lemmons | | 2017 |- | Bishop Corletta J. Vaughn | | 2019 |- |}

==2012 changes==

===Schools closing=== See: List of closed public schools in Detroit

On February 9, 2012, Emergency Financial Manager Roy Roberts announced the following school closings:<ref>{{cite web|title=Emergency Financial Manager announces school closings|url=http://www.freep.com/assets/freep/pdf/C418487228.PDF/}}</ref>

1. '''Burton Elementary School''': Students will be reassigned to the new $21.8-million Mackenzie PK-8 School building on the old Mackenzie High School site.

2. '''Detroit City High School''': Students will be reassigned to schools with existing Second Chance programs.

3. '''Detroit Day School for the Deaf''': Students will be reassigned to schools with hearing-impaired programs.

4. '''O.W. Holmes Elementary-Middle School''': Students will be reassigned to the new $22.3-million Munger PK-8 School. The new facility includes a two-story student arcade that will function as a dining court, student center and school square.

5. '''Kettering High School & Kettering West Wing''': Students at Kettering High School will be reassigned to Denby, Pershing, Southeastern or King high schools. Students enrolled at Kettering West Wing will be reassigned to schools with existing special education programs.

6. '''Mae C. Jemison Academy''': Students will be reassigned to Gardner Elementary School or Henderson Academy.

7. '''Maybury Elementary School''': Students will be reassigned to either Earhart Elementary-Middle School or Neinas Elementary School.

8. '''Parker Elementary-Middle School''': Students will be reassigned to the new $21.8-million Mackenzie PreK-8 School, which will include a large open media center. The building design will focus on student safety and will be environmentally responsible.

9. '''Robeson Early Learning Center''': Kindergarten classrooms at Robeson will be reassigned to the main Paul Robeson, Malcolm X Academy building. All pre-K programs will relocate to Palmer Park Preparatory Academy, which has a surplus Pre-K capacity.

10. '''Southwestern High School''': Students will be reassigned to either Western International or Northwestern high schools.

===Schools being replaced with new buildings=== * '''Mumford High School''': The new $50.3-million Mumford High School is the largest school construction project in the district's bond program. The 239,900-square-foot high school will accommodate about 1,500 students and also will have a community health clinic.<ref>{{cite web|title=See which DPS schools are closing |url=http://www.freep.com/article/20120208/NEWS01/120208074/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211235549/http://www.freep.com/article/20120208/NEWS01/120208074 |archive-date=February 11, 2012 }}</ref> * '''Burton International''': Is replaced by the Burton Theater which reopened as Cass City Cinema the end of 2011. The building also includes a montessori nursery, artist studios and law offices.<ref>[http://www.casscitycinema.com/MEMBERSHIP.html Cass City Cinema – About Us<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505113406/http://www.casscitycinema.com/MEMBERSHIP.html |date=May 5, 2016 }}</ref>

===Schools consolidating=== Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Emergency Financial Manager announces school closings |url=http://detroitk12.org/content/2012/02/08/dps-emergency-manager-roy-roberts-announces-school-changes-academic-initiatives-key-dates-and-timelines-for-parents-for-the-2012-13-school-year/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211163257/http://detroitk12.org/content/2012/02/08/dps-emergency-manager-roy-roberts-announces-school-changes-academic-initiatives-key-dates-and-timelines-for-parents-for-the-2012-13-school-year/ |archive-date=December 11, 2013 }}</ref>

* '''Crockett High School''' and '''Finney High School''' were consolidated into a $46.5-million, 221,000-square-foot high school being constructed at the site of Finney High School. It was named East English Village Preparatory Academy and accommodates up to 1,200 students. Students in grades 10–12 from Finney and Crockett high schools attend the new school, while 9th grade are required an entrance-admissions exam. If accepted, students must maintain a GPA of 2.5. * '''Farwell Elementary-Middle School''' and '''Mason Elementary School''' will consolidated and renamed Mason Elementary-Middle School. The current Mason Elementary School building has closed, and all students currently enrolled at Mason will be offered enrollment at the new site. New students residing in the Mason Elementary School boundary will be assigned to either the new Mason Elementary-Middle School or Nolan Elementary-Middle School. * '''Langston Hughes Academy''' and '''Ludington Magnet Middle School''' will consolidate and be named Ludington Middle School but will use the Langston Hughes Academy building.

Ethelene Crockett Academy was named after Dr. Crockett, the wife of the late Congressman George Crockett. Beloved historic leaders in Detroit, the name was changed by the first emergency manager ( actually by Governor Snyder) to Benjamin Carson Academy.

Finney High School, named after abolitionist Jared Finney, was renamed East English Village Academy by the emergency manager.

Barbara Jordan Elementary School, named after the Black congresswoman, was renamed Palmer Park Academy.

Davis Aerospace, named after Tuskegee Airman Benjamin Davis, moved in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2013/05/changes_at_unique_aerospace_hi.html|title=Changes at unique aerospace high school protested by Detroit officials|publisher=mlive.com|date=2013-05-21|access-date=2018-01-03}}</ref>

==Finances== On December 8, 2008, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan determined the district's inability to manage its finances and declared a financial emergency.<ref name="Detroit Free Press 2009">''Detroit Free Press'', January 27, 2009, Chastity Pratt Dawsey, "Granholm Names Appointee", p. A3</ref> Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed Robert Bobb as the emergency financial manager of Detroit Public Schools in 2009. His contract dictated a one-year tenure. The school district began selling 27 previously closed school buildings. On March 3, 2009, Bobb estimated that DPS's current year deficit would be greater than $150M, and requested early payments from the state to meet payroll. He declared that additional outside auditors would be required to properly assess the district's financial situation.

Twenty million dollars of the March 2009 debt was owed to the district's pension system.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Detroit Public School chief: 'Budget will be balanced.' |date=March 3, 2009 |publisher=WWJ Radio |url=http://www.wwj.com/pages/3953941.php |work=WWJ Newsradio 950 |access-date=2009-03-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090526051351/http://www.wwj.com/pages/3953941.php |archive-date=May 26, 2009 }}</ref> The DPS school board complained in 2009 that the deficit of $65 million for 2007–2008 school year was caused by accounting irregularities, including fringe benefits and paying teachers off of the books. Much of the deficit was discovered by outside auditors hired by former district Superintendent Connie Calloway in 2008.<ref>Gray, Steven (January 25, 2010). [https://web.archive.org/web/20130718080032/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1953694-1,00.html "Can Robert Bobb Fix Detroit's Public Schools?]". ''Time''. Retrieved on March 28, 2010. Archived from [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1953694-1,00.html the original] on July 18, 2013.</ref>

The 2008–2009 edition of the Michigan Department of Education's ranking of Michigan Public School financial data showed the mean Detroit Public School teacher's salary stood at $71,031, more than 14% higher than the state average of $62,237.<ref>Michigan Department of Education. 2008–2009 Bulletin 1014, Michigan Public School districts Ranked by Selected Financial Data. Published May 2010.</ref> During the same period, the Michigan cohort graduation rate was 80.1%, while Detroit Public Schools' cohort graduation rate was 67.39%, 16% lower than the state average.<ref>[http://www.michigan.gov/cepi/0,1607,7-113-21423_30451_51357---,00.html Retrieved April 15, 2011.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206154015/http://www.michigan.gov/cepi/0,1607,7-113-21423_30451_51357---,00.html |date=December 6, 2010 }}</ref>

==Demographics== In the 1970s DPS had 270,000 students.<ref name=AlHajalfarm>AlHajal, Khalil. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140316120048/http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2014/03/closed_detroit_high_school_cam.html#incart_river_default "Closed Detroit high school campus to become 27-acre farm"]. MLive. March 13, 2014. Retrieved on November 15, 2015.</ref> In 2014 the 2016 projected enrollment for DPS was 40,000.<ref name=AlHajalfarm/>

As of January 2013 about 49,900 students attend Detroit Public Schools. As of that year about 9,000 of them, over 18%, have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) plan required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of the federal government. At the same time, the state average is 12%. In 2012 about 17% had IEPs.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dawsey |first=Chastity Pratt |date=December 24, 2012 |url=http://www.freep.com/article/20121224/NEWS01/312240091/As-Detroit-Public-Schools-rolls-fall-proportion-of-special-needs-students-on-rise |title=As Detroit Public Schools rolls fall, proportion of special-needs students on rise |work=Detroit Free Press |access-date=February 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151205141239/http://www.freep.com/article/20121224/NEWS01/312240091/As-Detroit-Public-Schools-rolls-fall-proportion-of-special-needs-students-on-rise |archive-date=December 5, 2015}}</ref>

As of 2014 DPS had 6,092 students classified as bilingual, speaking over 30 languages. They included 4,972 Spanish speakers, 522 Bengali speakers, 258 Arabic speakers, 34 Romanian speakers, 29 Hmong speakers, and 277 students speaking other languages.<ref>"[http://detroitk12.org/content/2014/11/19/detroit-public-schools-expands-bilingual-offerings-to-students-and-families-to-serve-diverse-population/ Detroit Public Schools expands bilingual offerings to students and families to serve diverse population]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150912165320/http://detroitk12.org/content/2014/11/19/detroit-public-schools-expands-bilingual-offerings-to-students-and-families-to-serve-diverse-population/ Archive]). Detroit Public Schools. November 19, 2014. Retrieved on July 11, 2015.</ref>

In the 2019–20 school year the racial makeup was 82% black, 14% Hispanic, 3% white and 1% Asian.<ref name=OurSchools/>

==Dress code== Detroit Public Schools created a district-wide uniform dress code for students effective on May 11, 2006, for all students in grades Kindergarten through 12.<ref>[http://www.detroitk12.org/DOC060810studrescode.pdf "Policy 11.1 Student Dress Code"]. {{dead link|date=April 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Detroit Public Schools. Accessed October 22, 2008.</ref> This includes mandatory identification badges. Parents may opt their children out of the dress code for medical, religious, or financial reasons.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.detroitk12.org/resources/students/dresscode/ |title= Student Dress Code Policy |publisher= Detroit Public Schools |access-date= October 22, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090107151730/http://www.detroitk12.org/resources/students/dresscode/ |archive-date= January 7, 2009 |url-status= dead }}</ref> Several schools, including Bates Academy and Malcolm X Academy, had uniform dress codes before the start of the district-wide policy.<ref>{{cite news |author=MacDonald |first1=Christine |last2=Hicks |first2=Mark |date=April 11, 2006 |title=No more nose rings in school? |url=https://detroitnews.newsbank.com/doc/news/13D896F91E4509E8?pdate=2006-04-11 |access-date=2010-01-18 |newspaper=The Detroit News}}</ref>

==Digital programs== On February 4, 2010, the Detroit Public Schools announced that it wants to digitize all its teaching and learning as part of the comprehensive plan to accelerate student achievement, within five years.<ref>{{cite news |author=Schultz |first=Marisa |date=February 4, 2010 |title=DPS to make textbooks all-digital in 5 years |url=https://detroitnews.newsbank.com/doc/news/13D8DC51A38E8230?pdate=2010-02-04 |access-date=2010-02-05 |newspaper=The Detroit News}}</ref> Barbara Byrd-Bennett, the district's chief academic and accountability auditor, said the district is investing in high-tech tools to equip all 6th- to 12th-graders with computers and digitize all curriculum, textbooks and lessons plans district-wide. The $15 million product is part of a $40 million contract with Boston's Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which marks the largest single deal for the book publisher.

The first step will be interactive Web-based portal called Learning Village that would be fully functioning by fall 2010. The Learning Village program will give DPS the ability to digitize its textbooks, curriculum and lesson plans. Teachers will have access to students' assessment results and prospective lesson plans to more quickly diagnosis struggling students. Parents can log into the system to track their students' progress, print additional worksheets and view cumulative test results for a teacher's entire class. The purpose of the Learning Village tool is to serve as a unified portal to connect students, teachers, parents and principals, and deliver real-time learning. DPS will also use $14.2 million in federal stimulus and Title I dollars for netbooks for all 36,000 students and 4,000 teachers in grades 6–12 for access to technology to support hands-on learning. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is setting up a Detroit-based office with at least 13 employees for technical support, training and outreach. Detroit is the company's largest client.

==Schools== {{main|List of Detroit Public Schools}}

==See also== {{Portal|Michigan|Schools}} *Government of Detroit *''The Rise and Fall of an Urban School System'' *"A National Disgrace"

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://www.detroitk12.org/ Detroit Public Schools] **{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.detroit.k12.mi.us|title=Detroit Public Schools (detroit.k12.mi.us)}} **{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.detpub.k12.mi.us|title=Detroit Public Schools (detpub.k12.mi.us)}} {{Detroit Public Schools}} {{Detroit}} {{Highland Park, Michigan}} {{authority control}}

Category:District boards of education in the United States Category:1842 establishments in Michigan Category:Detroit Public Schools Community District Category:School districts established in 1842