GVSU-authorized charter schools rank among best in Michigan, Detroit

Charter schools authorized by Grand Valley are among Michigan’s and Detroit’s top elementary and middle schools, according to rankings released by U.S. News and World Report last month.

Five elementary schools and five middle schools authorized by Grand Valley rank among the best charter schools in Michigan.

U.S. News lists Achieve Charter Academy in Canton as the top-ranked charter middle school and fifth among public schools in the state. Chandler Woods Charter Academy in Plainfield Township ranks fourth among charter elementary schools in Michigan.

In Detroit, eight of the top-20 elementary schools and nine of the top-20 middle schools are charter schools authorized by Grand Valley. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Education Center Academy was ranked the No. 1 open-enrollment elementary school while Detroit Merit Charter Academy was the highest-ranked middle school on the list at No. 3.

Five of the top-10 middle schools in Detroit are Grand Valley-authorized charter schools as well — Detroit Merit, University Prep Science and Math, Legacy Charter, Detroit Enterprise, and Madison-Carver.

“These rankings show the positive impact schools can have when teachers, school leaders and school boards are all committed to great results for kids,” said Don Cooper, assistant vice president for charter schools.

“Such focus on their mission creates a collaborative environment where more and more solutions are developed to meet every student’s individual needs.” 

U.S. News annually releases rankings on the top universities and high schools in the country, but this is the first time the publication has analyzed and published rankings for elementary and middle schools.

The rankings are based on state assessment tests in math and language arts for the 2018-19 school year.

“We are proud that so many of the charter public schools we authorize are leading the way in Detroit and creating lifelong outcomes for the families they serve,” said Cooper.

Grand Valley-authorized charter schools ranking among best charter elementary schools in Michigan:

• Chandler Woods Charter Academy (No. 4)
• South Canton Scholars Charter Academy (No. 5)
• Vanguard Charter Academy (No. 7)
• Martin Luther King Jr. Education Center Academy (No. 9)
• Excel Charter Academy (No. 10)

Grand Valley-authorized charter schools ranking among best middle schools in Michigan:

• Achieve Charter Academy (No. 1 charter, No. 5 state)
• South Canton Scholars Charter Academy (No. 5 charter, No. 25 state)
• Chandler Woods Charter Academy (No. 6 charter, No. 30 state)
• Excel Charter Academy (No. 9 charter, No. 46 state)
• Walker Charter Academy (No. 10 charter, No. 47 state)

Grand Valley-authorized charter schools ranking among best elementary schools in Detroit include:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Education Center Academy (No. 1)
• Warrendale Charter Academy (No. 8)
• University Prep Science and Math (No. 9)
• Detroit Enterprise Academy (No. 11)
• Detroit Merit Charter Academy (No. 12)
• University Preparatory Academy (No. 13)
• Legacy Charter Academy (No. 15)
• Lincoln-King Adams-Young Academy (No. 17)

Grand Valley-authorized charter schools ranking among best middle schools in Detroit include:

• Detroit Merit Charter Academy (No. 3)
• University Prep Science and Math (No. 4)
• Legacy Charter Academy (No. 7)
• Detroit Enterprise Academy (No. 9)
• Madison-Carver Academy (No. 10)
• Martin Luther King Jr. Education Center Academy (No. 11)
• Detroit Premier Academy (No. 13)
• Lincoln-King Adams-Young Academy (No. 15)
• Warrendale Charter Academy (No. 17)

For more information, visit the Charter Schools Office website.