What is Excellent Schools Detroit?

Excellent Schools Detroit was formed as a coalition of Detroit’s education, government, community, and philanthropic leaders who, in March 2010, released an education plan that recommends bold steps so that every Detroit child is in an excellent school by 2020. The plan calls for Detroit to be the first major U.S. city where 90 percent of students graduate from high school, 90 percent of those graduates enroll in college or a quality postsecondary training program, and 90 percent of enrollees are prepared to succeed without remediation.

The citywide plan reflected months of discussions and deliberations, as well as a series of community meetings, youth focus groups, small group discussions with multiple stakeholders, and other efforts. It is also based on research about successful practices in other cities where education reform and transformation strategies have been documented.

The plan requires the implementation of breakthrough strategies in public will building, talent development, new school creation, accountability, and early childhood, all of which will dramatically improve student achievement in schools of all governance models: traditional public, charter, and private.

Meet the Staff and Project Teams

Meet the Board of Directors

The problem we are tackling

According to test results released in 2009^[1], only 2% of Detroit’s high school students are prepared for college-level math, and only 11% for college-level reading.  Likewise, less than 5% of Detroit’s 4th and 8th graders meet national math standards.

The test scores came just months after U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, speaking at a national conference, branded Detroit Public Schools (DPS) “ground zero” for education and comparable to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina^[2], and in the same year that a national report projected DPS’ graduation rate at 38%, the third-worst among the largest 50 U.S. cities^[3].

At the same time, enrollment in DPS, which is the largest provider of education to Detroit students, has fallen from 168,213 in 1999-2000^[4], to approximately 66,000 during the current school year.  In part due to revenue losses associated with enrollment declines, the district finds itself over $300 million in debt, and under the direction of a Governor-appointed Emergency Manager. Simultaneously, enrollment in charter schools has grown, replacing what was once a single school system with a “system of schools.”

As mentioned earlier, the Excellent Schools Detroit plan is to improve student achievement by addressing the issues common issues across the system of schools: educators and school leaders, student readiness, accountability, and new school creation.  The theory behind this plan is that improved educational outcomes rest on four primary strategic legs: great people, ready students, community engagement, and effective schools.

Our ambitious 90/90/90 citywide goals are that:

• 90% of students graduate from high school,
• 90% enroll in college or a quality postsecondary training program, and
• 90% of enrollees are prepared to succeed without needing remediation.