- Enrollment
- 2,493
- Students per teacher
- 25.2:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Detroit, MI
Palmer Park Preparatory Academy
Federal NCES profile for Palmer Park Preparatory Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 260110301293
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 19
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Palmer Park Preparatory Academy earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 80% of Michigan schools.
- #29 of 75
- schools in Detroit · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.5:1
- small classes for Michigan
- 70.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Palmer Park Preparatory Academy has class sizes smaller than 80% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Palmer Park Preparatory Academy ranks #29 of 75 schools in Detroit, MI.
School address
District: Detroit Public Schools Community District · Michigan
NCES ID 260110301293 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-49 students YoY
Palmer Park Preparatory Academy shrank from 425 students in 2022-23 to 376 in 2023-24 (-11.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 30.0 → 28.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-49 students YoY 260110301293 · Detroit, MI Other · SMALL · TRAD
405 enr · 13.5:1 · 70.8% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: Cass Technical High School (2,493 students)
Palmer Park Preparatory Academy shrank from 425 students in 2022-23 to 376 in 2023-24 (-11.5%). Teacher FTE lost 30.0 → 28.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Palmer Park Preparatory Academy 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 405
Palmer Park Preparatory Academy
405 students
What this shows Palmer Park Preparatory Academy reports 405 students on the CCD universe file.
How Palmer Park Preparatory Academy compares
Palmer Park Preparatory Academy 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 | 13.5:1 | ▼ 23% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.8% | ▲ 30% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 405 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
405
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
70.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 23% below state mean
Top 20% in Michigan - lower ratio than 80% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
76.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
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 405 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
36
in-school suspensions + 30 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 16.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
African American 84.0%
White 11.9%
Two or More 2.5%
Hispanic or Latino 0.7%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 84.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 28.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 28.0, Palmer Park Preparatory Academy 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 Palmer Park Preparatory Academy 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 | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Renaissance High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Earhart Elementarymiddle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Martin Luther King Jr Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Palmer Park Preparatory Academy'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 other schools in Detroit
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Earhart Elementarymiddle School
Standard public school
1,002 students 20.4:1 students per teacher
Munger Elementarymiddle School
Standard public school
954 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Mackenzie Elementarymiddle School
Standard public school
876 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh
Standard public school
855 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Davison Elementarymiddle School
Standard public school
765 students 18.7:1 students per teacher
Hope of Detroit Academy Middlehigh
Standard public school
582 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~405 students)
Frequently asked questions about Palmer Park Preparatory Academy
How many students attend Palmer Park Preparatory Academy?
Palmer Park Preparatory Academy has 405 students enrolled. It is a public school in Detroit, MI. CCD year-over-year: 425 (2022-23) → 376 (2023-24), down 49.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palmer Park Preparatory Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Palmer Park Preparatory Academy is 13.5:1, which is 23% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 14% 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 Palmer Park Preparatory Academy?
70.8% of students at Palmer Park Preparatory Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Palmer Park Preparatory Academy?
The largest demographic group at Palmer Park Preparatory Academy is African American at 84.0% of enrollment, in Detroit, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Palmer Park Preparatory Academy?
Palmer Park Preparatory Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Palmer Park Preparatory Academy rank among schools in Detroit?
By Resource Investment Index, Palmer Park Preparatory Academy ranks #29 of 75 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 schools in Detroit on the city page.
What other schools are in Detroit Public Schools Community District?
Besides Palmer Park Preparatory Academy, 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.