Detroit Service Learning

What Detroit Service Learning does

Detroit Service Learning Academy (DSLA) is a Michigan public school academy operating a PreK through 8 (with an emerging high school track) charter school district across three campuses in Detroit, Oak Park, and Redford. Founded in 1999 as YMCA Service Learning Academy and renamed in 2007, DSLA is chartered by Lake Superior State University, which granted the school a 'School of Excellence' designation in 2011. The institution's core product is a service-learning-oriented curriculum designed around 21st-century skills, supplemented by the state-funded Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) preschool using the HighScope play-based approach, a 1:1 device program in Grades 6-8, an Achievers Academy special education department, and a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) for academic intervention.

The technology stack is conventional for a K-12 operator rather than differentiated: a Parent Connect portal powered by Wayne County RESA's MIStar student information system, iCalendar/Outlook/Google calendar subscriptions, a QR-code-based summer registration portal, and standard social media properties. Summer and after-school programs include Summer to Shine enrichment, Summer Discovery credit recovery, Rising K readiness camp, Rising Artist, and an after-school enrichment program operated in partnership with Advantage Childcare. The school participates in USDA child nutrition programs serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

DSLA operates as a public school academy, so tuition is free for enrolled students. The revenue model is funded almost entirely by per-pupil state foundation allowance payments, supplemented by Michigan GSRP preschool funding and federal child nutrition reimbursements. Fees are limited to a modest after-school registration payment ($20) routed through the Advantage Childcare partner. There is no venture or private equity capital, no disclosed revenue, and the school is governed by a publicly disclosed board of directors with De'Angelo H. Alexander serving as School Director of the Detroit campus.

Name

Detroit Service Learning

Legal name

Detroit Service Learning Academy

Website

https://detroitsla.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Detroit Service Learning Academy is a Michigan public charter school district, chartered by Lake Superior State University, operating PreK-8 (with a high school track) across three campuses in Detroit, Oak Park, and Redford, funded primarily by per-pupil state foundation allowance and the GSRP preschool program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charter School Education (K-8)

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (611), Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Service & Service-Learning Programs (School-Run) (EDAJAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Volunteerism, Service-Learning & Community Service (EDALAHAG)

Keywords

• Charter school education
• K-8 education services
• State-funded preschool
• After-school enrichment
• Special education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State Funding: As a public charter school, DSLA receives per-pupil state funding based on enrollment counts. This is the primary revenue source for operating the school.
2. State-Funded Preschool (GSRP): The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is a state-funded, free preschool program for qualifying four-year-old children. Revenue comes from Michigan state education funding for qualifying at-risk preschool students.
3. Federal Child Nutrition Programs: The school participates in federal child nutrition programs, providing breakfast and lunch to students. This includes free and reduced lunch programs for qualifying families, funded through federal USDA child nutrition funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Detroit Service Learning Academy is a public charter school that delivers tuition-free K-8 education, state-funded preschool, after-school care, summer enrichment, and special education services across three Michigan campuses. As a public school academy chartered by Lake Superior State University, it integrates a service learning methodology into its curriculum to develop 21st century skills, with free meals, 1:1 technology in Grades 6-8, and wraparound family support services.

Product overview

Detroit Service Learning Academy operates as a PreK-12 charter school district chartered by Lake Superior State University, offering a unified educational platform across three campuses in Detroit, Redford, and Oak Park, Michigan. The core product is the K-8 Academic Programs supplemented by the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) for preschool students. The school offers an integrated suite of enrichment programs including Summer to Shine, Summer Discovery, Rising K Camp, Rising Artist, and an After School Enrichment Program managed through Advantage Childcare. Specialized services include Achievers Academy for special education, Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) for academic intervention, and a Food Services Program compliant with USDA civil rights regulations. Parent engagement is facilitated through the Parent Connect Portal connected to the MIStar student information system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Achievers Academy: Department of special education providing individualized educational programs for students with disabilities

Products and services

• K-8 Academic Programs Comprehensive kindergarten through 8th grade educational programs offering differentiated instruction, honor classes, and 1:1 technology integration for Grades 6-8. Centered on a PreK-12 service learning curriculum designed to develop 21st century skills and prepare students for lifelong learning.
• Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) State-funded free preschool program for qualifying four-year-olds using the play-based HighScope curriculum with parent involvement and field trips. Meets Monday-Thursday 8:00am-2:00pm with meals provided. Designed for families with four-year-old children who qualify by December 1st of the school year.
• Summer to Shine: All-Stars Free summer enrichment program for rising 1st-8th graders at Redford Campus featuring reading, math, STEM, art, sports, and field trips, including meals, materials, and T-shirt at no cost.
• Summer Discovery: Credit Recovery Summer credit recovery program for grades K-8 district-wide with transportation available and daily attendance required for credit advancement. Free for participating students.
• Rising K: Readiness Camp Kindergarten readiness program for rising kindergarteners at Detroit Campus focusing on confidence building, conflict resolution, and classroom preparation. Free summer program.
• Rising Artist Summer arts program for rising students, with flyer and registration pending at time of source material.
• After School Enrichment Program Onsite after-school program at Detroit, Oak Park & Redford campuses offering homework help, creative arts, physical activities, and life skills workshops through Advantage Childcare. $20 registration fee with affordable full-time and drop-in rates available.
• Achievers Academy (Special Education) Special education department providing individualized educational programs for students with disabilities, operating in compliance with IDEA, Section 504, and ADA. Provides special education services through partnership with Wayne County RESA.
• Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Academic support system providing before and after-school programs for students in grades K-8 requiring additional assistance to reach grade-level standards.
• Food Services Program USDA-compliant breakfast and lunch program offering nutritious meals daily including breakfast, lunch, and dinner for enrolled students. Compliant with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free meals provided daily (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lake Superior State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLake Superior State University serves as the charter authorizer for Detroit Service Learning Academy. This partnership establishes the school's authority to operate as a public charter school in Michigan. The charter relationship is foundational to DSLA's ability to operate.
• Wayne County RESAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWayne County RESA provides special education classroom programs and services for students with disabilities. The local school district must make such programs available if determined appropriate by the student's IEP team. DSLA contracts with Wayne County RESA to provide special education services.
• Advantage ChildcareminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdvantage Childcare partners with DSLA to provide after-school enrichment programs at Service Learning Academy District locations (Detroit, Oak Park & Redford). They handle online registration with a $20 registration fee and offer full-time and drop-in rates.
• HighScope Educational Research FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe GSRP program uses the HighScope play-based, child initiated learning curriculum. HighScope is an early childhood education approach developed based on the work of psychologist David Weikart.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• KIPP Foundation: One of the largest national charter networks operating 270+ schools. Comparable on college-prep charter model and multi-state replication, though at much greater scale than DSLA.
• Detroit Public Schools Community District: Traditional public school district serving the same Detroit market as DSLA. Comparable on geography and student demographic, but competes head-to-head for Detroit students and state funding.
• Success Academy Charter Schools: Large urban charter network operating 40+ NYC schools. Comparable on rigorous urban charter model and parent-choice positioning, though concentrated in a different metro.
• IDEA Public Schools: Large national charter network operating 80+ schools focused on college readiness for low-income students. Comparable on public charter funding, K-12 curriculum focus, and wraparound student supports, but at materially larger scale.
• Charter Schools USA: For-profit charter management organization operating schools in multiple states. Comparable on multi-state charter management model and per-pupil revenue, though broader geographically and operationally than DSLA.

Direct peers

• National Heritage Academies: Michigan-headquartered charter management organization operating 90+ charter schools across multiple states. Closest direct peer: similar PreK-8 urban charter model, per-pupil public funding, multi-site operations with shared back-office and curriculum.
• University Prep Schools: Detroit-area charter school network operating multiple K-12 campuses. Direct peer on geography, urban charter model, multi-campus structure, and similar Detroit parent-choice market.
• Jalen Rose Leadership Academy: Detroit-based public charter high school. Direct peer on Detroit market, charter funding model, and college/career preparation mission for urban students.

Others

• Advantage Childcare Resources: Michigan-based childcare provider that operates DSLA's fee-based after-school enrichment program across all three campuses. Direct channel partner and ecosystem participant rather than a competitor.
• HighScope Educational Research Foundation: Non-profit developer of the HighScope play-based early childhood curriculum that DSLA uses in its GSRP preschool. Adjacent ecosystem partner rather than a competitor; included because it shapes the school's preschool product.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/servicelearn1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Detroitsla
• Facebookfacebook.com/servicelearn1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1243315

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Detroit Service Learning