The top reported proficiency rate is 18% in Social studies. The lowest is 7% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Detroit Lions Academy
Detroit Lions Academy is a regular public school in the Detroit Public Schools Community District, serving grades six through twelve from its location on West Warren Avenue in Detroit. The school sits in a city that is a major urban center, historically the heart of the American automotive industry, with the Big Three automakers still anchoring the regional economy. Detroit has seen renewed population growth and revitalization investment in recent years, concentrated in areas like Midtown, Corktown, and the East Riverfront, though many neighborhoods continue to grapple with the legacy of decades of disinvestment. The school's immediate zip code has some of the most affordable housing in the region, with typical home values well below both state and national benchmarks, and the county market currently carries a large inventory of active listings.
The school enrolls a modest number of students across its grade span, with the largest concentrations in the upper grades. The student body is almost entirely Black, and a very substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school does not carry charter or magnet status. Data on special education enrollment, English learner populations, Title I status, staffing, discipline, attendance, and course access was not available, so those dimensions of the school environment could not be assessed here.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, Detroit Lions Academy's proficiency results were low across every tested subject and grade. In math, proficiency rates fell in the lowest reported range for sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, with no students reaching proficiency in the sixth and seventh grade M-STEP math administrations and only a small share doing so on the eighth grade PSAT. English language arts results followed a similar pattern, with the highest proficiency rate appearing in eighth grade at a level that remained quite low. Science and social studies proficiency in eighth grade were also limited. When measured against other districts in Wayne County, the school's overall proficiency sits in the bottom quartile. These are sobering results, and a parent considering this school may want to look into what academic supports and interventions are in place, and how the school is working to move students toward grade-level mastery.
No high school-specific assessment results, graduation rate, or chronic absenteeism data were available for this school in the provided data. The absence of a graduation rate and upper-grade assessment figures means the picture here is limited to the middle grades. This may reflect how the data was reported for this school, or it may indicate that those results were not yet captured. A parent would want to ask the school directly about graduation outcomes and post-secondary pathways for its high school students.
The broader district context offers some reason for attention. Detroit Public Schools Community District has announced a multi-year facilities improvement plan to renovate and modernize school buildings, funded through capital projects funding and grants. While this could mean improved school environments over time, it may also bring disruptions during renovation periods. Publicly reported information on other recent district-level academic or programmatic changes was limited, so it was not included here.
Detroit itself offers families a city in transition, with a dense downtown core, cultural institutions like the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Public Library in Midtown, and a growing riverfront. Walkability varies widely by neighborhood, with downtown and Midtown more navigable on foot and outer areas more car-dependent. Transit options include the DDOT bus system, the QLine streetcar, and the People Mover downtown loop. For families connected to the automotive industry or the major health systems that employ large numbers of Detroit residents, the school's central location could be practical.
Detroit Lions Academy serves a community with significant economic needs and is working within a district undertaking long-term facility improvements. Its state assessment results are a clear area of concern. Families considering this school should have a direct conversation with school leadership about academic support structures, graduation outcomes, and what the daily learning experience looks like for students across the full grade span.
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