For a parent, choosing a school for their child can be difficult no matter where they live. But in Detroit, the city’s dizzying array of options can leave parents struggling to figure out the best one.
This year, more parents are looking for schools than usual, with the closure of four schools in the Detroit Public Schools Community District and the uncertain future of the Barack Obama Leadership Academy, which could shut down if it doesn’t find a new charter authorizer.
Some parents will send their children to the closest neighborhood school assigned by the district. Others told reporters at Chalkbeat and BridgeDetroit that they are still weighing their options.
Related: How Detroit parents are searching for new schools amid uncertainty, closures
Those parents won’t be the only ones searching for new schools, however. Detroit has constant churn as parents new to the district look for the best options, and existing parents consider new schools because they’re either dissatisfied with where they are, or they just want a school that is a better fit for their children. Just last week alone, multiple parents who are moving into the city posted in a Facebook group for DPSCD parents seeking feedback from others.
Searching for schools in Detroit can be complicated. There is no centralized source of information on both DPSCD and charter schools, said Maria Montoya, a Detroit parent and consultant who has worked with students, families, and administrators in Michigan and nationally on education issues, including enrollment.
The Detroit district has a school locator, as well as a guide to each school in the district, information about district services and programming, and a school-by-school listing that includes QR codes to take readers directly to school websites. The Community Education Commission guide to Detroit schools has a link to a school locator, but it takes viewers to the DPSCD website and has no information about the city’s many charter schools.
“There isn’t a place that you can go that says, ‘okay, here’s all the preschools, here’s all the elementary schools, here’s all the middle schools, no matter who runs them,’ and so … you become an expert on your own, and it’s like you have to figure them out, you know, you’re just kind of going word of mouth, you’re going with, you know, whatever research you can find,” Montoya said.
To help parents navigate this process now and anytime during the year, Chalkbeat Detroit pored over what’s available from various sources, compiling the best tips for parents. The tips below come from interviews with experts, current and past guides produced by the Community Education Commission, the DPSCD guide for picking the perfect school, a guide for parents in Kent County who are exploring enrolling their children in a district outside their boundaries, and other sources.
Step 1: Interview yourself to understand your education priorities for your child
Before parents even begin a school search, they need to ask themselves some key questions so they can determine what their priorities are in a school, Montoya said. Answers to the questions can help a parent decide where to begin their search.
Some of those questions include:
- What does my child need in a new school?
- What are their interests?
- What specific academic needs need to be considered when choosing a school?
- Does the school location need to be near my home or work? Does it need to be near a relative’s home?
- Is there a specific type of staff or curriculum I’m looking for? For instance, do I want a school that is focused on the arts, or language, or something else?
- For students entering high school, do I want a school that will give my child access to advanced coursework such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes?
Step 2: Finding schools
The first thing to know is the landscape in which you’re searching. Detroit has a little over 100 schools run by DPSCD and about 80 charter school districts.
DPSCD has a number of schools that require either an application to enroll or an exam. Parents interested in these schools, some of which are highly sought after, should become familiar with application deadlines and testing dates. You can learn more here.
There may be no centralized way to find information about all public schools in the city, but there are some options.
On this DPSCD School Locator, you can type in your address and find what schools are nearby. You can also type in an intersection near where you live, or in an area of the city you’d prefer to find a school.
On this Michigan Department of Education map of public school academies (the formal name for charter schools), you can search for all charter schools in Detroit and they’ll show up on a map. Or, as with the DPSCD locator, you can type in an address or intersection and find which charter schools are nearby.
Step 3: Time to research schools
Once you have a list of schools you’re interested in, you will want to explore such metrics as how students perform academically, attendance rates, and staffing.
MI School Data is Michigan’s official portal for education data. It’s easy to get lost in all of the information, but there is one spot designed especially for parents: the Parent Dashboard for School Transparency. Parents can search for schools and, when they find what they’re looking for, they’ll find a host of information, including data showing how well students perform academically compared to the rest of the state and similar districts, as well as how much improvement students have demonstrated.
Some other things you’ll want to be aware of: Not all schools follow the same schedule for opening up enrollment. Call the school office or check their websites to know the best time to enroll.
Step 4: Diving deep on possible schools
These 10 questions come courtesy of the Kent Intermediate School District in West Michigan. It’s designed for parents considering enrolling their children in districts outside their boundaries through Michigan’s Schools of Choice law:
- Does the school and the community match your expectations? Are buildings presentable? Are teachers and students friendly?
- What special services does the school offer? Does it offer the special needs or gifted and talented programming your child might require? Do the extracurricular and athletic offerings match your child’s interests?
- Does the curriculum meet state and national standards? Does the curriculum help prepare children for the realities of the working world and the diverse people they will meet? Does the district offer special programming focused in areas of interest to your child?
- How does the school integrate technology into the classroom? Is technology integrated into the curriculum? Does the school have a well-equipped media center?
- How does the school communicate with families? Do the opportunities for parent involvement meet your needs and desires? Are parents involved in their children’s education?
- What is the student-teacher ratio? Will your child get the attention he or she needs to succeed? Are students actively engaged in their education? Is there a sufficient mix of teaching and self-guided instruction to engage your child?
- Will school or self-provided transportation meet your child’s needs? Will transportation capabilities allow your child to participate in the before- or after-school activities that meet his or her needs and interests?
- Will there be consistency in the curriculum, the staff, and in your child’s friends from year to year?
- How does the school handle disciplinary matters? What is the parent’s involvement in disciplinary matters?
- What is the school doing to meet demands for improved student achievement? Are parents, teachers, and administrators actively involved in efforts to ensure curriculum and technology are current and appropriate for student needs?
Step 5: Visiting a school, talking to the principal
The following tips on visiting schools come from the Community Education Commission, and provide guidance on what to look for as you’re touring a school, and what questions to ask. Visiting a school is ideal, but it isn’t always possible.
What to look for:
- Does the school feel welcoming?
- Is the building neat and clean? Do things appear to be in good working order?
- Do you feel comfortable with the security measures in place? Does the location seem safe?
- How are adults interacting with students?
- What are students doing? Do they look interested and engaged?
- What technology is available in libraries or classrooms?
Here are questions you should ask:
- How are you working to make sure every child is learning and making progress?
- How does the school support students who have academic, behavioral/emotional, or social difficulties? How will the school support my student’s needs?
- What activities are available to students beyond the classroom?
- How experienced are the teachers? How often do teachers get training?
- How are parents involved in making decisions at the school?
- What kind of homework will my student have?
- How does this school keep students safe? What are the school’s discipline policies?
- How would you describe the school culture?
- How does the school communicate with parents? How often can I expect to hear from the school?
- How does this school prepare students for college? For careers? (for high schools)
- How does your counselor help students choose classes and make decisions about college, careers, and life after high school? (for high schools)
Step 6: Knowing what documents you need to enroll
Every school and district may have a different set of requirements. But here’s what kind of documents DPSCD requires for parents to enroll.
- Parent/Guardian photo ID
- Student’s birth certificate or birth record
- Student’s immunization record or waiver
- Student’s most recent transcript or report cards
- Two forms of proof of address
This DPSCD flyer has more details about what’s required, as well as what counts as proof of address.
Step 7: Not a step, just more recommendations
Here are some additional tips from Montoya:
- Some schools may already be full and offer only waitlists, but many are still looking to fill seats until Michigan’s school count day on Oct. 7. Families shouldn’t fear that being on a waitlist means their student will not get offered a seat because some students are waitlisted at multiple schools.
- Some parents don’t need to see a school in action to feel comfortable enrolling their child. But others find seeing a building and classrooms critical. Most schools host summer enrollment events where families can explore classrooms, meet staff and connect with others to ask questions.
- If there’s a school you have a particular interest in, give them a call and ask about upcoming events, any newsletters you might sign up to receive, or start to follow them on social media to receive any news about events they might have in the works or ways to connect with their team over the summer.
- While events, lawn signs, and billboards in Detroit aim to attract families, word of mouth remains the main influence on where families choose to send their children. This approach is second only to a school’s reputation within the community. However, families need to understand the school’s current reality, as staff, academics, and culture can change. While seeking advice from your network is helpful, also ensure you have a clear picture of your child’s potential experience at the school.
- If a parent finds that the school isn’t working well for their child or family, they should not feel stuck. Start by talking to the school staff to see if issues can be resolved. If nothing works, remember you don’t have to stay at a school that isn’t the right fit. However, Montoya advises families to avoid pulling their child out without having a new placement lined up, as this can cause them to miss important academic milestones.