- Enrollment
- 2,493
- Students per teacher
- 25.2:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Detroit, MI
Blackwell Institute
Federal NCES profile for Blackwell Institute, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 61/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 260110301298
👥 S:T ratio 72
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 82
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Blackwell Institute earns 61/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 95% of Michigan schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #1 of 31
- elementary schools in Detroit · Resource Index
- 61
- Resource Index · Higher
- 7.1:1
- small classes for Michigan
- 88.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Blackwell Institute has class sizes smaller than 95% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Blackwell Institute ranks #1 of 31 elementary schools in Detroit, MI.
School address
District: Detroit Public Schools Community District · Michigan
NCES ID 260110301298 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-96 students YoY
Blackwell Institute shrank from 213 students in 2022-23 to 117 in 2023-24 (-45.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 13.0 → 11.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-96 students YoY 260110301298 · Detroit, MI Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
92 enr · 7.1:1 · 88.7% lunch · RII 61
Nearest enrollment peer: Cass Technical High School (2,493 students)
Blackwell Institute shrank from 213 students in 2022-23 to 117 in 2023-24 (-45.1%). Teacher FTE lost 13.0 → 11.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Blackwell Institute in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cass Technical
Cass Technical High School
2,493 students
- Western Intern
Western International High School
1,959 students
- Renaissance Hi
Renaissance High School
1,197 students
- Earhart Elemen
Earhart Elementarymiddle School
1,002 students
- Martin Luther 976
Martin Luther King Jr Senior High School
976 students
- This school 92
Blackwell Institute
92 students
What this shows Blackwell Institute reports 92 students on the CCD universe file.
How Blackwell Institute compares
Blackwell Institute is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 7.1:1 | ▼ 59% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 88.7% | ▲ 63% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 92 | top 87% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
7.1:1
Leaner classes than 96% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
92
Bigger than 9% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
88.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 63% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
7.1:1
students per teacher
- 59% below state mean
Top 5% in Michigan - lower ratio than 95% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Funding equity
$22,002
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $15,012
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 92 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 96.7%
Hispanic or Latino 3.3%
Largest group: African American at 96.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 6.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 6.4, Blackwell Institute is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Detroit Public Schools Community District reports $22,002 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Blackwell Institute Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cass Technical High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Western International High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Renaissance High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Earhart Elementarymiddle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Martin Luther King Jr Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Blackwell Institute's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,959
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,197
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 1,002
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 976
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
Similar elementary schools in Detroit
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Voyageur Academy
Standard public school
789 students 25.5:1 students per teacher
Legacy Charter Academy
Standard public school
738 students 18.4:1 students per teacher
Regent Park Scholars Charter Academy
Standard public school
707 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
University Preparatory Science and Math Elementary
Standard public school
476 students 19.8:1 students per teacher
University Preparatory Art Design Elementary
Standard public school
389 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Fisher Magnet Upper Academy
Standard public school
378 students 18:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~92 students)
Frequently asked questions about Blackwell Institute
How many students attend Blackwell Institute?
Blackwell Institute has 92 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Detroit, MI. CCD year-over-year: 213 (2022-23) → 117 (2023-24), down 96.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Blackwell Institute?
The student-teacher ratio at Blackwell Institute is 7.1:1, which is 59% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 55% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Blackwell Institute?
88.7% of students at Blackwell Institute are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Blackwell Institute?
The largest demographic group at Blackwell Institute is African American at 96.7% of enrollment, in Detroit, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Blackwell Institute?
Blackwell Institute has a Resource Investment Index of 61/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Blackwell Institute rank among elementary schools in Detroit?
By Resource Investment Index, Blackwell Institute ranks #1 of 31 elementary schools in Detroit, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Detroit on the city page.
What other schools are in Detroit Public Schools Community District?
Besides Blackwell Institute, Detroit Public Schools Community District also operates Cass Technical High School (2,493 students), Western International High School (1,959 students), and Renaissance High School (1,197 students). See the Detroit Public Schools Community District district page for the complete list.