Average
#1721 of 3,192 schools in MI
Macdowell Preparatory Academy
Elementary School · Macdowell Preparatory Academy · Detroit, MI
A charter elementary school in Detroit, MI where students score 8 points below what's typical for similar communities.
4201 WEST OUTER DR, Detroit, MI 48221
- Math 8% vs MI 34% (2022)
- Reading 12% vs MI 44% (2022)
- 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Macdowell Preparatory Academy score 10% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 18%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MI average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 7 points across the 11-year record (2012–2022) and has held near 10% recently.
Show all 11 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 6% (multi-year average, 2012-2022) · reading/ELA 17% (multi-year average, 2012-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 34 test records from MI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
91.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Macdowell Preparatory Academy sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Detroit map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 41Car-Dependent
- Transit 46Some Transit
- Bike 46Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High6,148/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Detroit), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$55,583
Median home value
$138,700
Median rent
$1,174/mo
College educated
29.3%
Homeownership
65.1%
Poverty rate
19.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 48221; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bates AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 8.8 | PK–8 | 0.3 mi | 785 | Compare → |
| David Ellis AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.7 | PK–12 | 0.8 mi | 215 | Compare → |
| Vernor Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | PK–8 | 0.9 mi | 301 | Compare → |
| Bagley Elementary School of Journalism and TechnologyEnrollment path unverified | 7.1 | PK–6 | 1.0 mi | 343 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Macdowell Preparatory Academy
- Schools in district
- 1
- Rank in district
- #1 of 1
- District spending per student
- $13,910NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- The source release did not match this district identifier.
Macdowell Preparatory Academy is listed in MacDowell Preparatory Academy; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Macdowell Preparatory Academy
Macdowell Preparatory Academy is a public elementary school in Detroit, MI, part of Macdowell Preparatory Academy, serving approximately 368 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,721 of 3,192 schools in MI. State assessment records show 6% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2022) and 17% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Macdowell Preparatory Academy
What grades does Macdowell Preparatory Academy serve?
Macdowell Preparatory Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Macdowell Preparatory Academy?
Macdowell Preparatory Academy has an enrollment of approximately 368 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Macdowell Preparatory Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Macdowell Preparatory Academy is 19.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Macdowell Preparatory Academy rank in MI?
Macdowell Preparatory Academy ranks #1,721 of 3,192 schools in MI.
What is Macdowell Preparatory Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Macdowell Preparatory Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Macdowell Preparatory Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Macdowell Preparatory Academy has 6% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2022) and 17% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2022).
Is Macdowell Preparatory Academy a charter school?
Yes, Macdowell Preparatory Academy is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is Macdowell Preparatory Academy a Title I school?
No, Macdowell Preparatory Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Macdowell Preparatory Academy?
91.6% of students at Macdowell Preparatory Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 368
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Wayne County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 55.2%
- Phone
- (313) 494-8141
- Area population (ZIP 48221)
- 41,750
- Area average commute
- 27 min
- Area median age
- 38.3
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 48221; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2012-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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