Enrollment
855
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Detroit, MI
University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh
Federal NCES profile for University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 19/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 260096108026Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 14
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh earns 19/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #14 of 25
- schools in Detroit · Resource Index
- 19
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.1:1
- students per teacher
- 73.5%
- free-lunch eligible
University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh ranks #14 of 25 schools in Detroit, MI.
School address
District: University Preparatory Art & Design · Michigan
NCES ID 260096108026 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
50.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.1:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
-2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
73.5%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+35% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh
University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh is a higher-need, large charter combined-grade school in Detroit, Michigan, enrolling 855 students.
At 17.1:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Michigan median, within a few percentage points of the 17.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 73.5% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Michigan, bigger than 93% of state schools at 855 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Against 180 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #112.
Its student body is predominantly African American (99% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 2/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 428 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 73.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 20.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 4 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Detroit's public schools, it stands alongside Earhart Elementarymiddle School (1,002 students): University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (17.1:1 vs 20.4:1).
Its district, University Preparatory Art & Design, also runs University Preparatory Art Design Elementary (389 students).
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh compares
University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.1:1 | ▼ 2% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 73.5% | ▲ 35% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 855 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.1:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
855
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
73.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% 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
17.1:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 54% in Michigan - lower ratio than 46% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
73.7%
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
$11,105
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $13,507
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 428 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 99.1%
White 0.4%
Two or More 0.4%
Hispanic or Latino 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 99.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 1.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 1.8, University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 2
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for University Preparatory Art & Design, which includes University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh.
$11,105
Per student
-18%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 0.5%
State 79.4%
Federal 20.2%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Preparatory Art Design Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 389
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
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
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
Edward Duke Ellington at Beckham
Standard public school
560 students 17:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~855 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh's federal record.
- Compare University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh against another school. Compare schools
- University Preparatory Art & Design's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh
How many students attend University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh?
University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh has 855 students enrolled. It is a public school in Detroit, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh?
The student-teacher ratio at University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh is 17.1:1, which is 2% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 9% higher 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 University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh?
73.5% of students at University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh?
The largest demographic group at University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh is African American at 99.1% of enrollment, in Detroit, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh?
University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh has a Resource Investment Index of 19/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh rank among schools in Detroit?
By Resource Investment Index, University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh ranks #14 of 25 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.
Is University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh a good school?
University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh earns 19/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in University Preparatory Art & Design?
Besides University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh, University Preparatory Art & Design also operates University Preparatory Art Design Elementary (389 students). See the University Preparatory Art & Design district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.