Detroit Prep

What Detroit Prep does

Detroit Prep is a free public charter school serving kindergarten through eighth grade students on Detroit's east side at 8411 Sylvester Street. Founded in 2016 as Detroit Achievement Academy by Jen McMillan and Kyle Smitley, the school delivers an Expeditionary Learning / EL Education curriculum that combines academic rigor with project-based, themed expeditions involving field studies, community experts, and hands-on learning. The school also emphasizes character development through its "Habits of Character" framework and runs a college-preparation track that includes 8th-grade overnight visits to Grand Valley State University.

The school's core offering is a single, unified K-8 education program rather than a multi-product platform, supplemented by a branded merchandise shop, alumni support services, and annual fundraising events. Detroit Prep is authorized as a Michigan Public School Academy by Grand Valley State University, which provides charter oversight. The school was recognized in 2023 as a Yass Prize Awardee, placing it among the top 16 most innovative public schools in the nation, and has been featured in Forbes, The Atlantic, Architectural Digest, and Chalkbeat.

Detroit Prep is funded primarily through per-pupil state school aid, with supplementary revenue from federal grants, private donations (including a documented $100,000 gift from Madonna in 2018), merchandise sales, and community fundraising events. The school operates with approximately 25 employees in a renovated 1910s-era building with capacity for up to 500 students. As a 501(c)(3)-style public charter entity, Detroit Prep carries no VC or PE ownership and is governed by a school board.

Name

Detroit Prep

Legal name

Detroit Achievement Academy

Website

https://detroitprep.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Detroit Prep is a free public charter K-8 school on Detroit's east side, founded in 2016, delivering expeditionary learning and character education to families in Detroit and authorized by Grand Valley State University.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-8 Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)

Keywords

• Charter school education
• K-8 education
• Expeditionary learning
• Public school education
• Project-based learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public School Funding: Detroit Prep operates as a free public charter school funded primarily through per-pupil state school aid allocations, with additional support from federal grants, private donations, and community fundraising events such as the annual Chef's Schoolyard Fundraiser.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Detroit Prep is a free Michigan Public School Academy (charter school) on Detroit's east side that provides K-8 education through an EL Education expeditionary learning model. It delivers academic instruction alongside project-based expedition units, character development, field studies with community partners, and college-preparation activities, supported by per-pupil state aid, federal grants, and private donations. A small branded merchandise shop (apparel, accessories, the Detroit Prep Family Cookbook) supplements fundraising.

Product overview

Detroit Prep is a single, unified K-8 charter school offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The school provides comprehensive educational services for kindergarten through 8th grade students, including core academic instruction, expedition-based project learning, college preparation resources, and alumni support services. Additionally, the school operates a merchandise shop selling branded items such as backpacks, apparel (t-shirts, crewnecks, hoodies), accessories (fanny packs, pencil pouches, travel mugs), and the Detroit Prep Family Cookbook.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Detroit Prep K-8 Education Program A free public charter school on Detroit's east side serving kindergarten through eighth grade students, providing a world-class, equitable education with academic excellence and character development through EL Education expedition-based learning, field studies, and college preparation. Serves families in the Detroit metropolitan area.
• Detroit Prep Branded Merchandise Shop Online shop selling Detroit Prep branded items including backpacks, apparel (t-shirts, crewnecks, hoodies), accessories (fanny packs, pencil pouches, travel mugs), and the Detroit Prep Family Cookbook. Used to support fundraising and community engagement.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BloomscapeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2020Bloomscape partnered with Detroit Prep to provide plant grow kits for students during the pandemic period.
• Hello Bello & ChryslerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2019Hello Bello (Kristen Bell's company) and Chrysler partnered with Detroit Prep for a surprise event for students.
• IFFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2019IFF partnered with Detroit Prep on the building renovation project, reviving a century-old school building in Pingree Park to serve up to 500 students.
• Grand Valley State UniversitycoreOthersGVSU serves as the charter authorizer for Detroit Prep as a Michigan Public School Academy, providing oversight and authorization of the school's charter contract.
• Yass PrizecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYass Prize recognized Detroit Prep as a finalist/awardee in 2023, highlighting the school as one of the most innovative public schools in the nation.
• The Henry Ford MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership where 4th graders participate in museum field studies and the 'Museum Takeover' program where students present persuasive letters to museum leadership about exhibit improvements.
• Greening of DetroitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with kindergarten students for tree planting expeditions at Pingree Park, teaching students about environmental stewardship and community engagement.
• Downtown Boxing GymminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKhali Sweeney, Director of Downtown Boxing Gym, served as a field expert for the Athlete Leaders of Social Change expedition module.
• Grand Valley State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner8th graders take overnight field trips to GVSU for college preparation, including campus tours, dorm experience, and college readiness activities through the Pathways Program.
• Diverse Charter Schools CoalitionminorOthersMembership organization for diverse charter schools; Detroit Prep paid $1,000 in dues for this affiliation.
• MAPSAminorOthersMichigan Association of Public School Academies membership; Detroit Prep paid $3,954 in dues for this affiliation.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Success Academy Charter Schools: Large NYC-based charter school network operating dozens of K-12 schools with a college-prep mission. Shares Detroit Prep's character-development and academic-rigor emphasis but at significantly larger scale and different geography.
• Achievement First: Northeast-based nonprofit charter school network operating college-preparatory schools with a character-education focus similar to Detroit Prep's Habits of Character framework.
• BASIS Charter Schools: National network of college-preparatory charter schools known for academic rigor and advanced curriculum. Comparable to Detroit Prep in college-prep orientation but serves a broader national footprint and higher grade levels.
• KIPP Public Schools: National nonprofit network of college-preparatory public charter schools serving predominantly underserved communities. Shares Detroit Prep's mission of equitable college-prep education and expeditionary/character-based pedagogy at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• National Heritage Academies: A Grand Rapids, Michigan-based charter school operator managing a network of public charter schools across multiple states. Operates under the same Michigan Public School Academy framework as Detroit Prep and competes for similar families and authorizer relationships.
• University Prep Schools: Detroit-based public charter school network serving K-12 students on the city's east and west sides. Most directly comparable to Detroit Prep in geography, grade span, and urban charter mission.
• Cornerstone Schools: Detroit-based charter school network serving K-12 students with a college-preparatory focus. Competes with Detroit Prep for Detroit families seeking rigorous K-8 and K-12 education options.

Regional players

• Detroit Public Schools Community District: Traditional public school district serving Detroit's K-12 students. Not a direct competitor but the primary alternative enrollment option for Detroit families and the benchmark against which Detroit Prep's academic outcomes are measured.

Others

• EL Education: National K-12 education organization that supports schools implementing expeditionary learning. Detroit Prep is an EL Education school, making EL Education a network/curriculum peer and ecosystem enabler rather than a direct operator competitor.

Emerging players

• Henry Ford Academy: Public charter school in Dearborn, Michigan, affiliated with the Henry Ford learning system. Shares some Detroit-area charter DNA and is relevant given Detroit Prep's deep Henry Ford Museum partnership.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DetroitPrep2016
• Facebookfacebook.com/DetroitPrep2016
• Instagraminstagram.com/detroitprep2016
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/detroit-prep

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Detroit Prep