Choosing the right school for your child is one of a parent’s most important jobs. When your kid is in the right place, there’s no ceiling on their success.
But how to choose?
We’ll get you started with a robust selection of metro Detroit schools — and each is unique and worth a look. Learn more and find just the right school for your amazing child. This content is brought to you through sponsorship from Wayne County Community College District and Metro Parent advertising partners.
Academy of the Sacred Heart
Established in 1851, Academy of the Sacred Heart is Michigan’s oldest independent school, offering a Catholic college-preparatory education to students of all faiths. It is part of a network of 23 schools in the U.S. and a community of schools in 41 countries around the world. Centrally located on 28 acres in Bloomfield Hills, it offers a co-educational Early Childhood Program-grade 4, single-gender middle schools and an Upper School for Girls in grades 9-12. Extended day, enrichment and summer camp available.
Aim High School
Aim High is more than a school for their students — it is their community, their friends and teachers, their place to grow and be happy. A tuition-based, small private school with a proven educational model for students with learning and social differences in grades 6-12, Aim High School honors those differences and provides individualized support and opportunities for students to thrive and excel academically, behaviorally and socially. This safe and accepting environment offers students an academic and social experience that fosters strong teacher-student relationships, an atmosphere where students feel valued by adults and each other and personalized instruction that develops students’ abilities, talents and interests.
Ypsilanti Community Schools
Ypsilanti Community Schools offers many learning opportunities for students. Experts in K-12 education along with universities, business and parent partners have assisted in the development of YCS’s exciting educational system. YCS accepts all children with compassion and a commitment to meet each child wherever he or she is along the learning spectrum, and grow together from there. YCS is innovative and prepares students with necessary 21st-century skills. With a sense of community, everyone has common goals to help one another grow. YCS values the uniqueness of teachers and students and construct learning opportunities aimed to challenge students and provide relevant real-world learning tasks.
Bloomfield Hills Schools
Bloomfield Hills Schools provides a personal public school experience for every student from pre-kindergarten through high school. Bloomfield Hills Schools delivers comprehensive, challenging and inspiring education in a community that equips all learners to become architects of their futures.
Grosse Pointe Public School System
Grosse Pointe Public School System’s mission is to cultivate educational excellence by empowering students, valuing diversity, inspiring curiosity and pushing possibilities. The district serves Young 5 through grade 12 and offers 26 advanced placement classes, 30 varsity sports, 120 high school teams and seven career and technical education programs. GPPSS teachers are among the best in the state and the district ranks among the top 2% in the entire country. GPPSS is proud to celebrate more than 100 years of educational excellence.
Livonia Public Schools
With a tradition of excellence and an eye toward the future, Livonia Public Schools serves PreK-grade 12 and adults 18-26 with special needs. Livonia Public Schools offers a wide range of academic offerings, including a Japanese Dual Immersion Elementary School; gifted and talented programs for grades 1-12; wide range of special education services; creative and performing arts program (CAPA); award-winning athletics and robotics; Project Lead the Way STEM programs; updated schools; planned Career Technical Center renovations; planned state-of-the-art early childhood center and much more. All of this, set in a safe and welcoming environment.
Macomb Intermediate School District
Macomb Intermediate School District provides special education services to moderate to severely impaired children and adults ages birth-26.
Mount Clemens Community Schools
Mount Clemens Community Schools is an ideal place to learn, grow, play and dream from PreK-12. Its buildings are filled with dedicated staff, creative teachers and committed students who work together to achieve academic goals. Staff members continually develop new programs designed to challenge students and enhance their educational experiences. There is a real sense of community within the buildings with students supporting each other and everyone working to help families thrive. The district has kept class sizes small, emphasizes a variety of STEM opportunities for students of all ages and hosts free after-school and summer programs.
Oakland Schools Virtual Learning Academy Consortium
VLAC has more than 10 years of successful online learning experience. Experienced, highly specialized staff support families and students in their at-home learning environment. Using a combination of print materials, online curriculum and live teacher support, VLAC is the top option for K-12 online learning in Oakland County.
Royal Oak Schools
Preparing children to compete on a global stage takes a concentrated effort. Every department, school, teacher, staff member and family works to support student learning here, from preschool, developmentalK-12 and adult ed. Everyone works together to prepare each student for the future. At Royal Oak Schools, school communities offer a variety of programs to reach every student. In addition to the city’s regular national recognition as one of the best places to raise a family, the school district is consistently recognized for what it offers. All schools are Green Schools.
Southfield Public Schools
Southfield Public Schools offers a robust college prep curriculum, integrated with exceptional programs and enrichment activities, through 14 schools across the district. The district serves students through three high schools, two middle schools, seven elementary and K-8 schools and two preschools. The district offers an International Baccalaureate Programme for K-12 students and Advanced Placement for K-8 students, award-winning STEAM programs starting in grade 6 and a dual enrollment program where students earn college credits with costs covered by the district. University High School Academy is ranked ninth out of all Michigan high schools and seventh out of all metro Detroit high schools by Newsweek. The district’s English Language Learners program includes students and staff who speak 32 languages from 27 countries.
Utica Community Schools
Utica Community Schools is Michigan’s second largest school district. Whether your child shines in the classroom, on the field, on stage or even in the workshop, Utica Community Schools offers award-winning programs as unique as the students they care for. Their student-centered approach supports the whole child, both educationally and emotionally. Utica Community Schools are recognized for excellence at both state and national levels, with one of the top graduation rates in the country. As a school of choice, they accept students from across Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, Lapeer and Wayne counties.
Walled Lake Consolidated School District
The Walled Lake School District is comprised of 20 schools including three award-winning, comprehensive high schools and a new state-of-the-art early childhood center. Junior kindergarten, AP Capstone and IB Baccalaureate programs are offered.
Wayne-Westland Community Schools
From the earliest learners, Wayne-Westland Community Schools offers enrichment opportunities including Young 5s, K-5 Talented and Gifted classes, K-8 STEM labs, Early Middle College opportunities and state-of-the-art Career-Technical Center for high school students, and free K-12 athletics. Wayne-Westland Community Schools is accepting applications from residents of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe and Washtenaw counties.
Charlotte Mason Community School
Charlotte Mason Community School is a private, faith-based K-8 institution in Detroit specializing in education as a “science of relationships.” Connections between students, teachers, God and the world are part of a relational learning process that engages the whole child. At CMCS, students become part of a diverse community centered on love that stimulates personal dignity, a joy of learning and high academic achievement.
Novi Christian Academy
Novi Christian Academy is a Christian biblical worldview, non-denominational, college prep academy for grades K-12.
Southfield Christian School
Southfield Christian School is a premier PreK-12 private, coeducational, college prep Christian school in Southfield. The average top 10% composite ACT test score is 33 and 100% of graduates are accepted to a college of choice. Multiple AP and dual enrollment classes are offered in high school. SCS is ISACS/NCA dual accredited. SCS develops the character of God-honoring students, equipped with the highest level of academic rigor, to become “leaders in their world for the sake of Christ.” SCS has been named the No.1 Christian School in metro Detroit five years in a row.
The Roeper School
The Roeper School, an independent school for gifted children PreK-grade 12, recognizes that a well-rounded education is more than academics. Roeper focuses on educating and inspiring students to not only excel academically, but to think as individuals and to engage as a community with compassion for each other and the world. Since 1941, Roeper has been guiding young minds to prepare for the unknown and to commit to justice rather than power. Roeper graduates thrive in the most selective colleges and can be seen supporting efforts to strengthen our cities and serving as leaders in engineering to the arts to public service.
Bradford Academy
Bradford Academy’s mission is to instill the qualities of character, excellence, creativity and service into every PreK-12 student as they become prepared global learners. The top reason families pick Bradford Academy is because it is a safe and friendly school with teachers who truly care about every student’s education. Behind the doors of Bradford Academy is a family-like environment where students take learning seriously while balancing their rigorous curriculum with high expectations. Located in Southfield, Bradford Academy is committed to providing a high-quality education that helps every student go beyond their academic and personal goals.
Creative Montessori Academy
Creative Montessori Academy’s mission is to create a strong, constantly evolving, mutually supportive partnership with parents, families, the community and the teachers as facilitators to maximize every child’s academic and personal growth from grades K-8. Since its beginning more than 25 years ago, the Academy, which is located in Southgate, has grown to nearly 800 students. Teachers and administration are trained in the Montessori Method and are committed to every child’s education. Recognizing that children thrive when they can drive their educational discovery, Creative Montessori Academy empowers children to do their best work each day by offering individualized learning and practical skill development to nurture the whole child.
Four Corners Montessori Academy
Located in Madison Heights, Four Corners Montessori Academy’s mission is to provide an exemplary K-8 education through a nurturing and stimulating environment that enhances each child’s intellectual and emotional gifts, leading to responsible, compassionate citizens. Students work within a cooperative environment of support with their teachers, peers and parents. The result of this hard work is an Academy graduate who has learned respect, has become a confident learner and has amassed a body of knowledge that can lead them for the rest of their lives.
Ivywood Classical Academy
Ivywood Classical Academy educates K-8 students using the virtues-based, content-rich, classical education tradition. The classical curriculum is time-tested, research-based and proven to develop children into thoughtful, caring, educated, free-thinking young adults. The curriculum emphasizes education in the humanities, sciences, and arts and integrates the Latin language to promote learning depth. Taking students beyond “critical thinking skills” means to nurture their imaginations with something to think about, and that is how Plymouth-based Ivywood Classical Academy inspires wonder.
Livingston Classical Academy
At Livingston Classical Academy, the mission is to offer a classical K-12 education in the liberal arts and sciences, fostering a life of happiness and excellence based on core principles of moral character and civic virtue. Students within the classical education model are instilled with confidence, perseverance, courtesy, honesty, service and friendship. Located in Whitmore Lake, Livingston Classical Academy embraces uniqueness in student’s backgrounds and experiences, making them a part of a shared community of truly well-rounded individuals. Rather than tell students what to think, Livingston Classical Academy teaches them how to think by using the tried-and-true methods of logic, rhetoric and dialogue.
Macomb Montessori Academy/Second Home Child Development Center
Macomb Montessori Academy, located in Warren, is the perfect place for your child’s educational journey to begin, and its sister GSRP program at Second Home Child Development Center is a great way to join the family. Multi-age classrooms are led by state- and Montessori-certified teachers that guide students through long blocks of uninterrupted work time. They are dedicated to working together in supporting, nurturing and guiding students to their brightest future. The Montessori Method allows for individualized learning for all aged children and fosters curiosity, creativity and critical thinking in all students kindergarten through 6th grade.
Content sponsored by Wayne County Community College District. Learn more about WCCCD’s innovative academic and career programs at wcccd.edu.
