News Summary
The Detroit Public Schools Community District has reached an 11-year high in third-grade reading proficiency, according to the latest M-STEP results. This achievement comes amid challenges such as socioeconomic disadvantages and high absenteeism. Significant investments and hiring of academic interventionists have supported these improvements, yet DPSCD’s reading proficiency remains below the state average. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti stresses the need for increased student engagement and attendance to sustain progress in academic achievement. The district’s ongoing three-year investment plan aims to further enhance early literacy.
Detroit — The Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) has recorded a significant milestone in student literacy, achieving an 11-year high in reading proficiency among third graders, according to the recent results from the 2024-25 Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP). This accomplishment comes despite ongoing challenges faced by the district, including socioeconomic disadvantages and issues with student attendance.
The latest M-STEP results revealed that nearly every grade level in the DPSCD experienced an increase in proficiency rates for both mathematics and English language arts (ELA) since the test’s inception in the 2014-15 school year, with the notable exception of third-grade math, where scores have remained stable since the 2018-19 academic year.
Efforts to enhance literacy within the district have included substantial investments, including millions of dollars from a settlement related to a “right to read” lawsuit. The DPSCD has also hired hundreds of academic interventionists dedicated to providing one-on-one or small group instruction, particularly for students in early grade levels.
Proficiency Rates Comparison
In the realm of math, 12.3% of DPSCD students achieved proficient or advanced scores, compared to 12.7% of students in city charter schools and 9.1% in their suburban counterparts. For reading proficiency, charter schools in Detroit surpassed DPSCD by a margin of 5 percentage points, while suburban charter schools demonstrated a proficiency rate of 16.2% in reading.
Despite these improvements, DPSCD’s overall third-grade reading proficiency rate stands at just under 13%, lagging behind the statewide average of nearly 39%. It is noteworthy that only 50% of the school-age population in Detroit is enrolled in district schools, as many students attend charter schools located within the city and surrounding suburbs.
Response to Systemic Challenges
The report detailing these outcomes has highlighted the systemic challenges that students in Detroit face, including high poverty levels, elevated absenteeism, and a history of inequitable funding in education. Currently, over 60% of students in DPSCD are reported as chronically absent, presenting a significant barrier to continued academic improvement.
In response to these challenges, Superintendent Nikolai Vitti has emphasized the importance of maintaining student engagement and increasing attendance as critical components for facilitating further advancements in student achievement.
Financial Investments and Future Plans
Last year, DPSCD initiated a three-year investment plan totaling $94.4 million dedicated to enhancing early literacy. In the most recent M-STEP results, students in grades 3-8 exhibited proficiency rates of 15.4% in ELA and 12.3% in math, representing modest gains of 1.53 percentage points and 1.3 percentage points, respectively. However, the report also indicated a 2 percentage point decline in ELA proficiency among English learners, although notable gains were recorded in the areas of math, science, and social studies.
Imani Foster, representing an educational equity nonprofit, highlighted the necessity for ongoing funding and training for educators, as well as updates to technological resources within the district. These factors are considered essential for sustaining progress and achieving ambitious academic goals established in the DPSCD’s updated strategic plan, which extends through 2027.
Conclusion
The measures taken to boost literacy and academic performance in the Detroit Public Schools Community District are beginning to show promising results, although significant work remains ahead. As the district seeks to overcome the challenges posed by student absenteeism and funding disparities, the gains in reading proficiency offer a ray of hope for the future of education in Detroit.
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Additional Resources
- Detroit News: Bold Move Would Fix Education
- Wikipedia: Education in the United States
- Detroit Free Press: Trump Education Plan Lagging
- Google Search: Michigan education system
- WXYZ: Detroit Youth Financial Literacy Program
- Google Scholar: Financial literacy in education
- Bridge Detroit: DPSCD Attendance and Literacy Rates
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
- Click on Detroit: Michigan Literacy Struggles
- Google News: Michigan literacy
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DETROIT STAFF WRITER The DETROIT STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDetroitMI.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Detroit, Wayne County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Movement Electronic Music Festival, Detroit Grand Prix, and America's Thanksgiving Parade. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Detroit Regional Chamber and Focus HOPE, plus leading businesses in automotive and healthcare that power the local economy such as General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Henry Ford Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, HERENovi.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
