Other / mixed grade configuration · Detroit, MI

Universal Academy

Federal NCES profile for Universal Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.

2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 260023701207Charter school
0/100100/10028/100
👥 S:T ratio
23
🌟 Gifted program
30
🎓 Counselors
0
📋 Attendance
61
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →

The verdict

Universal Academy earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of Michigan schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.

#21 of 75
schools in Detroit · Resource Index
28
Resource Index · Lower
19.3:1
large classes for Michigan
97.9%
free-lunch eligible

Universal Academy has class sizes larger than 75% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.

By Resource Investment Index, Universal Academy ranks #21 of 75 schools in Detroit, MI.

School address

CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24

-16 students YoY

Universal Academy held near 684 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount).

Teacher FTE added 36.6 → 37.9 across the same CCD years.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).

Steady CCD campus

-16 students YoY 260023701207 · Detroit, MI Other · MID · CHARTER

695 enr · 19.3:1 · 97.9% lunch · RII 28

Nearest enrollment peer: Moulton Elementary School (695 students)

Universal Academy held near 684 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount). Teacher FTE added 36.6 → 37.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →

How Universal Academy compares

Universal Academy held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.

Metric This school vs Michigan Michigan avg U.S. avg
Students per teacher 19.3:1 ▲ 10% 17.5:1 15.7:1
Free-lunch eligible 97.9% ▲ 80% 54.3% 51.7%
Enrollment 695 top 13% - -

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25

19.3:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
695
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.

Equity indicators methodology

Economic need
97.9%
free-lunch eligible - 80% 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
19.3:1
students per teacher - 10% above state mean
Top 75% in Michigan - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
15.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$10,971
per pupil, district-wide - below Michigan avg of $15,012
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 695 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
55
in-school suspensions + 214 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 38.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.

Student demographics

White 94.1%
Hispanic or Latino 4.5%
African American 1.2%
Asian 0.3%

Largest group: White at 94.1% of enrollment.

Student-body diversity index 11.2/100

Simpson diversity index - at 11.2, Universal Academy is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.

Programs

AP courses offered 3

District finance for Universal Academy reports $10,971 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.

Similar other schools in Detroit

6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.

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.

Frequently asked questions about Universal Academy

How many students attend Universal Academy?

Universal Academy has 695 students enrolled. It is a public school in Detroit, MI. CCD year-over-year: 700 (2022-23) → 684 (2023-24), nearly flat (-16).

What is the student-teacher ratio at Universal Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Universal Academy is 19.3:1, which is 10% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 23% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.

What percentage of students receive free lunch at Universal Academy?

97.9% of students at Universal Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.

What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Universal Academy?

The largest demographic group at Universal Academy is White at 94.1% of enrollment, in Detroit, MI.

What is the Resource Investment Index for Universal Academy?

Universal Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (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 Universal Academy rank among schools in Detroit?

By Resource Investment Index, Universal Academy ranks #21 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 Universal Academy?

None; Universal Academy is a single-school charter district, and Universal Academy is its only campus.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) CCD + Public School Universe (2024-25), CRDC (2021-22), F-33 District Finance Survey (FY 2022-23) · 2024-25 Data as of the 2024-25 school year. Coverage from U.S. Department of Education NCES Common Core of Data. Varies by entity type; administrative districts and certain charter networks may report only a subset of fields.

All federal data sources used on this page

Full source list and how we compute each figure: methodology page.

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