University Prep Schools

Detroit-area charter school system

Ronald school

Address

450 Lauren street

Detroit

Michigan

48207

United States

Coordinates| 42°22′4.4″N 83°4′31.4″W﻿ / ﻿42.367889°N 83.075389°W﻿ / 42.367889; -83.075389
Information
Type| Charter school network
Established| 2000
Grades| K–12
Gender| Co-Educational
Enrollment| ~ 4,500 scholars
Color(s)| Black/Red/White
(U Prep Academy)

Royal Blue/Black/White
(U Prep Science & Math)

Teal/Black/White
(U Prep Art & Design)

Athletics conference| Charter School Conference - Gold
Sports| baseball, basketball, cheerleading, football, soccer, softball, track, volleyball, wrestling
Nickname| Panthers (UPA) / Cobras (UPSM) / Mustangs (UPAD)
Website| Official site

University Prep Schools (U Prep Schools) is a K-12 charter school network headquartered in the New Center area of Detroit. It has three districts within its network: University Preparatory Academy (UPA), University Prep Science & Math, (UPSM), and University Prep Art & Design (UPAD).[1]

## History

[edit]

The first University Preparatory Academy middle school opened its doors in Detroit in the fall of 2000 with 112 6th graders. Founded by former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor and Michigan State Senator Doug Ross, the school was established as a public charter school with a mission of graduating its open-admission Detroit students from high school and enrolling them in college at rates comparable to affluent suburban schools. The school modeled itself after the Big Picture schools in Rhode Island, which developed a program of individualized learning producing impressive results with urban children.

In the spring of 2002, University Prep Middle School was visited by philanthropists Robert Thompson and Ellen Thompson at the suggestion of then Michigan Governor John Engler. The Thompsons offered to help after Detroit Public Schools rejected their $200 million donation offer to create 15 new public schools. The Thompsons agreed to fund a new high school for University Prep, with a performance agreement to graduate at least 90% of the senior class in 2007 and beyond, and enroll 90% of those graduates in post-secondary studies. This "90-90" model exceeded expectations, becoming the hallmark of the University Prep system model.

As Stephen Henderson of the Detroit Free Press points out, "U Prep graduates 90 percent of its students and sends 90 percent to college. Other charters operating in the city have not had as much luck, and Ross will be tasked with making sure all DPS-chartered schools perform well."[2]

University Prep expanded into two systems—University Preparatory Academy and University Prep Science and Math—by 2012, with two high schools, two middle schools, and three elementary schools. Ross then left to become the Chief Innovation Officer at Detroit Public Schools. A third district, developed in partnership with the College for Creative Studies, was later added to the U Prep network. The Thompson Foundation continues to support the schools.

## Academic performance

[edit]

As part of the establishment of U Prep,[3] The Thompsons asked the school to retain 90% of its high school students and have 90% of them attend post-secondary institutions.[4] In 2010, the graduation rate was 95% with almost all students moving on to tertiary education.[5] 57% of students from the class of 2007 who enrolled in two-year schools returned as sophomores, while 83% of those enrolled in four-year universities remained as sophomores.[4]

Dan Rather stated in the 2011 program "A National Disgrace" that the test scores in the U Prep school system "are much closer to the Michigan state average" and "many points higher" compared to test scores from Detroit Public Schools (DPS) campuses.[6]

## University Prep Academy District

[edit]

Founded in 2000.

### University Prep Academy Middle School

[edit]

University Prep Academy Middle School serves approximately 405 students, the majority of whom are from Detroit.

### University Prep Academy High School

[edit]

University Prep Academy High School, also founded in 2000.

#### University Preparatory Elementary School (Ellen Thompson Campus)

[edit]

#### University Prep Academy Elementary (Mark Murray Campus)

[edit]

University Prep Academy Elementary (Mark Murray) educates approximately 480 students.

## University Prep Science & Math District

[edit]

Founded in 2008, University Prep Science & Math (UPSM) focuses on STEM education.

### University Prep Science & Math Elementary School – Sidney D. Miller Campus

[edit]

University Prep Science & Math Elementary School – Sidney D. Miller Campus serves as a cornerstone of the UPSM district. Founded in 2008, this K-5 school educates approximately 480 students, the majority of whom are from Detroit. The school's curriculum emphasizes STEM education.

### University Prep Science & Math Middle School

[edit]

University Prep Science & Math Middle School educates approximately 540 students.

The middle school, constructed with significant support from the Thompson Educational Foundation, featured two floors of classrooms and a basement with a cafeteria and gymnasium. The school included an 80,000-square-foot addition and enhancements such as a new entrance to the Detroit Science Center, a Science Center Café, and a Gift Shop.

### University Prep Science & Math High School

[edit]

Founded in 2010, University Prep Science & Math High School served around 1 student, the majority of whom were from Detroit.

The Thompson Foundation donated $1 million to University Prep Science & Math High School to support its mission and enhance its educational programs.

The new University Prep Science & Math High School opened on East Riverfront in 2010. Work began earlier on the renovation of the Albert Kahn-designed Franklin furniture building in the East Riverfront district to become University Prep Science & Math High School. The 94,000-square-foot facility featured state-of-the-art classrooms, a gym, a cafe with a view of the Detroit River and a wrap-around terrace, a conference room, and a spacious auditorium. The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan awarded a grant of $1.5 million, with the Thompson Educational Foundation contributing the remaining $13.5 million needed.

## University Prep Art & Design District

[edit]

The University Prep Art & Design (UPAD) district was founded to provide a specialized, art-infused education.

### University Prep Art & Design Elementary School

[edit]

UPAD Elementary is a K-5 school located in Detroit.

### University Prep Art & Design Middle School

[edit]

### University Prep Art & Design High School

[edit]

## See also

[edit]

* List of public school academy districts in Michigan

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "About." University Prep Schools. Retrieved on August 8, 2015. "Our Offices[...]610 Antoinette St Detroit, MI 48202"
2. ^ "Detroit Public Schools critic Ross tapped to improve DPS's charter schools". MLive. July 26, 2011.
3. ^ Albom, Mitch. "Mitch Albom: Denied Michigan hopeful learns tough lesson" (Archive). Detroit Free Press. April 19, 2014. Retrieved on August 8, 2015.
4. ^ a b Jennifer Mrozowski (February 23, 2009). "Charter's grads staying in college". The Detroit News. Retrieved January 18, 2010. (Archive)
5. ^ Transcript of "A National Disgrace" (Archive). AXS TV. p. 16. Retrieved on August 11, 2015.
6. ^ Transcript of "A National Disgrace" (Archive). AXS TV. p. 15. Retrieved on August 11, 2015.

## Further reading

[edit]

Stephen Henderson. "Detroit Public Schools ." [https://www.pr.com/press-release/153690 (May 26, 2009). PR.com. Archive: [1]
Finley, Nolan. "What Newark got, Detroit turned down" (Archive) (Opinions and Editorial). The Detroit News. September 30, 2010.

* v
* t
* e

Schools in Wayne County, Michigan

Public high schools

Detroit
Public
Schools|

| Neighborhood schools|

* Central
* Cody
* Denby
* East English Village
* Ford
* King
* Mumford
* Northwestern
* Osborn
* Pershing
* Southeastern
* Western International

|

Alternative schools|

* Academy of the Americas
* Barsamian Preparatory Center
* Cass Technical
* Communication & Media Arts
* Crosman
* Davis Aerospace
* Detroit International Academy for Young Women
* Detroit Technology High School
* Detroit School of Arts
* Douglass Academy
* Millennium School
* Renaissance
* Trombly Alternative
* West Side Academy
* White Center

Closed or merged|

* Chadsey
* Cooley
* Crockett
* Detroit City
* Finney
* Kettering
* Mackenzie
* Murray-Wright
* Northeastern
* Northern
* Redford
* Southwestern
* Catherine Ferguson Academy (alternative)

Other
public
schools|

| Neighborhood
schools|

* Allen Park
* Annapolis (Dearborn Heights)
* Carlson (Gibraltar)
* Winston Churchill (Livonia)
* Clarenceville (Livonia)
* Crestwood (Dearborn Heights)
* Dearborn
* Ecorse Community
* Edsel Ford (Dearborn)
* Flat Rock
* Fordson (Dearborn)
* Benjamin Franklin (Livonia)
* Garden City
* John Glenn (Westland)
* Grosse Ile
* Grosse Pointe North
* Grosse Pointe South
* Hamtramck
* Harper Woods
* Lincoln Park
* Melvindale
* Northville
* Plymouth-Canton Educational Park (Canton)
* Plymouth (Canton)
* Redford Union
* Robichaud (Dearborn Heights)
* River Rouge
* Riverview
* Romulus
* Theodore Roosevelt (Wyandotte)
* Southgate Anderson
* Adlai E. Stevenson (Livonia)
* Thurston (Redford)
* Trenton
* Taylor
* Wayne Memorial
* Woodhaven (Brownstown Township)

|

Alternative
schools|

* Burger School for Students with Autism (Inkster)
* Dearborn Center for Math, Science and Technology
* Dearborn Magnet
* Henry Ford Collegiate Academy (Dearborn)

Closed|

* Highland Park Community
* Inkster
* John F. Kennedy (Taylor)
* Harry S. Truman (Taylor)

Charter
schools|

* Chandler Park Academy (Harper Woods)
* Cesar Chavez Academy (Detroit)
* Consortium College Prep (Detroit)
* Cornerstone Schools High School (Detroit)
* Clara B. Ford Academy (Dearborn Heights)
* Henry Ford Academy (Dearborn)
* Jalen Rose Leadership Academy (Detroit)
* Taylor Preparatory High School (Taylor)
* Universal Academy (Detroit)
* Universal Learning Academy (Westland)
* University Prep Schools (Detroit)

| Closed|

* Catherine Ferguson Academy (Detroit)

|

HS closed|

* Plymouth Educational Center (Detroit)

Independent

Secular
private|

* Detroit Waldorf School
* University Liggett School

Religious|

* Cabrini
* Detroit Cristo Rey
* Divine Child
* Inter-City Baptist School
* Lutheran High Westland
* Loyola
* University of Detroit Jesuit

| Closed or merged|

* Austin Catholic Prep
* Holy Redeemer
* Ladywood
* Notre Dame
* Our Lady of Mount Carmel
* St. Florian
* Trinity Catholic

|

Moved|

* Detroit Catholic Central (to Novi in 2005)
* Regina (to Warren in 2007)

This list is incomplete.

* v
* t
* e

Midtown Detroit

Areas|

* Brush Park
* Cass Farm Multiple Property Submission
* Cass Corridor
* Cass-Davenport Historic District
* Cass Park Historic District
* Cultural Center Historic District
* East Ferry Avenue Historic District

Education|

* Wayne State University (More information)
* Detroit Public Library Main Library
* Detroit Public Schools
* Cass Tech
* UPA Middle and UPSM Middle
* Jefferson Intermediate School
* Detroit Institute of Technology (closed)

| Former K–12 school buildings|

* Clay School
* Saints Peter and Paul Academy

|

Hospitals|

* Detroit Medical Center
* Children's Hospital of Michigan
* Detroit Receiving Hospital
* Harper University Hospital
* Hutzel Women's Hospital

Museums|

* Detroit Historical Museum
* Detroit Institute of Arts
* Michigan Science Center
* Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Clubs|

* Detroit Masonic Temple
* Scarab Club

Residences|

| Single family houses|

* William C. Boydell House
* Charles Lang Freer House
* Bernard Ginsburg House
* Robert M. and Matilda (Kitch) Grindley House
* Col. Frank J. Hecker House
* Hudson-Evans House
* Mulford T. Hunter House
* Inn at 97 Winder
* Albert Kahn House
* George W. Loomer House
* Perry McAdow House
* Samuel L. Smith House
* Thomas S. Sprague House
* Herman Strasburg House
* Elisha Taylor House
* David Whitney House

|

Multifamily houses|

* 2643 Park Avenue
* Belcrest Apartments
* Chatsworth Apartments
* Coronado Apartments
* Eddystone
* Garfield Lofts
* Lancaster and Waumbek Apartments
* League of Catholic Women Building
* Milner Arms Apartments
* Helen Newberry Nurses Home
* The Park Shelton
* Santa Fe Apartments
* Stuberstone Lofts
* Thompson Home
* Verona Apartments

Religion|

* Cass Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church
* Cathedral Church of St. Paul
* Chapel of St. Theresa-the Little Flower
* First Congregational Church
* First Presbyterian Church
* First Unitarian Church of Detroit
* Saint Andrew's Memorial Episcopal Church
* Temple Beth-El

Utility buildings|

* Willis Avenue Station

Commercial buildings|

* Architects Building
* Cass Motor Sales
* Detroit-Columbia Central Office Building
* Graybar Electric Company Building
* Russell Industrial Center

Public facilities|

* Dunbar Hospital
* Majestic Theater
* Garden Bowl
* Orchestra Hall
* Little Caesars Arena

This list is incomplete.

* v
* t
* e

New Center, Detroit

Structures|

* Argonaut Building
* Cadillac Place
* Detroit Amtrak Station
* Fisher Building
* Henry Ford Hospital
* Hotel St. Regis, Detroit
* Metropolitan United Methodist Church
* New Center Building

Parks|

* New Center Park

Education|

* Detroit Public Schools
* University Prep Schools

This list is incomplete.
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