Wayne RESA authorizes seven public school academies that are unique in mission and focus and are committed to offering high quality, diverse educational alternatives to meet the needs of the students they serve. The Office of Public School Academies is responsible for oversight of the seven schools authorized by Wayne RESA. Oversight includes two primary functions:
- To ensure compliance with all federal, state and local laws that apply to PSAs
- To support and guide PSAs towards sound educational, operational and governance practices
In addition to the oversight of PSAs authorized by RESA, the Office of Public School Academies also serves as a liaison for all 90 Public School Academies in Wayne County, helping to identify systems of support and services as well as information and communication on educational trends, legislative updates, reporting requirements and other general information.
Public School Academies Authorized by Wayne RESA
In 1995, RESA became the first ISD in Michigan to authorize, or charter a public school academy. Casa Richard Academy (formerly known as Ser Casa Academy), was RESA's first authorized PSA. It was authorized with the goal of serving at-risk students, who have either dropped out or have been suspended from traditional high schools. To date, RESA authorizes seven academies that include: Blanche K. Bruce Strict Discipline Academy, Casa Richard Academy, Creative Montessori Academy, Detroit Midtown Academy, Henry Ford Academy, McGivney School Detroit, and Lincoln-King Academy.
Wayne RESA's authorized public school academies are responsible for maintaining an academic program that is both unique and supported by the local school district where it is located. In order to ensure this directive has been met, Wayne RESA is proud to have been the first ISD to institute a rigorous and continuous annual oversight review process of PSAs. The PSA Review Team evaluates the progress of each school to monitor its compliance with state and federal mandates, insures effective delivery of services to promote student achievement, and determines the viability of the PSA to continue being chartered by Wayne RESA. A comprehensive handbook illustrating this process has been produced and shared with currently authorized charter schools, Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and fellow authorizers throughout the state.
PSAs authorized by Wayne RESA include:
Current Status: October, 2010
Blanche Kelso Bruce Academy (5-12)
Blanche Kelso Bruce Academy is a strict discipline academy that opened in September 2001 in two sites. It now has six sites, with plans to open two more. As a strict discipline academy, B.K. Bruce Academy enrolls students who have been placed by the courts or students who have been expelled from their previous schools and are required by law to attend strict discipline academies only, or are referred by their parents. The mission of the Blanche Kelso Bruce Strict Discipline Academy is to provide effective educational services to students, who, due to legal and/or other environmental risk factors impacting their lives, are unable to participate in regular school settings, and/or are identified as at risk of academic failure in traditional school environments. The philosophy of education is based on a commitment and belief that each child can learn and succeed, that students at risk can overcome with a caring community of learners, that through unique contributions, understanding strengths and needs, and the collaborative efforts of all engaged adult constituencies, great results can be achieved. Due to the demographic nature of student population (i.e., court placement), the number of students fluctuates throughout the year. Although enrollment figures show approximately 375 students are enrolled in the six sites operated by the Academy, it is estimated that the Academy serves approximately 2000 students annually.
Superintendent: Blair Evans
Management Company: Evans Solutions
- Don Bosco Hall - DePaul Youth Treatment Center
609 E. Grand Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48207
(313) 656-2600 Ext. 240 - Samaritan Center
5555 Conner
Detroit, MI 48213
(313) 656-2610 - St. Jude Center
15255 Mayfield
Detroit, MI 48205
(313) 656-2600 Ext. 240 - Victor Center
1200 Alter Road
Detroit, MI 48215
(313) 656-2600 Ext. 240 - Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility
1326 St. Antoine
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 967-2001 - Wolverine Shelter
2629 Lenox
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 656-2600 Ext. 240
Casa Richard Academy (formerly SER Casa Academy), which opened in 1994-95, is the oldest of the seven public school academies chartered by Wayne RESA. The school's mission is to continue to educate, empower and support at-risk youth in Wayne County, and prepare them become contributing citizens. Therefore, the school serves as an alternative educational program for at-risk youth, with an emphasis on strong core curriculum that includes environmental studies and applied technology. Currently the school educates about 150 students in grades 9-12. The school received federal Empowerment Zone funds to design and renovate a new facility, which opened August 2002. Currently, the academy is involved in the Ford Motor Company High School Partnership Initiative to provide students with career development and mentoring, and job shadowing opportunities.School Principal: Ms. Angela Johnson
2635 Howard
Detroit, MI 48216
(313) 963-7757
Creative Montessori Academy opened in January 2001. This new academy employs the Montessori philosophy and teaching practices to offer a unique school environment and learning opportunity for students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Approximately 652 students are enrolled. This uniqueness is even greater because most Montessori schools are pre-school or early education schools only. The Academy's mission is to create a strong, constantly evolving mutually supportive partnership with parents and families for the purpose of maximizing every child's academic and personal growth.
Principals: Carol Hutton & Rochelle Cochran
Management Company: Choice Schools
15100 Northline Road
Southgate, MI 48195
(734) 284-5600
Detroit Midtown Academy (formerly Marilyn F. Lundy Academy) opened its doors Fall 2000. It serves both adjudicated students referred through the courts, and students from the general population. There are about 325 students currently enrolled. The mission is to provide abused, neglected and underachieving students ranging in age from 11 to 18 years an educational environment based upon diagnostic prescriptive teaching. The purpose of the Academy is to nurture and educate those students who may be labeled "at risk" or are otherwise lacking the emotional, developmental and/or social skills necessary to succeed in a traditional classroom. The Detroit Midtown Academy concentrates on a strong general education program with a business career education track, thus preparing students for college as well as the world of work. School Principal: Ms. Jennifer Joubert
950 Selden
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 831-4961
Henry Ford Academy, which opened its doors for enrollment in 1997-98, is located on the premises of the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. This academy is the nation's first charter school developed jointly by a global corporation, public education and a world-renowned cultural institution. Conceived, developed, and implemented in cooperation with Ford Motor Company and The Henry Ford, and chartered by Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency, the academy represents a model of partnership that focuses some of the best thinking to utilize best practices in preparing students for the 21st century. There are approximately 480 students in grades nine through twelve. The tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade students are assigned an individual laptop computer. The ninth grade students share a laptop computer with another student. Twelfth grade students complete a personalized research project as part of their high school graduation requirements. Students utilize the resources of the Museum, the Village and Ford Motor Company in their learning. The Academy continues to design and implement a demanding high level curriculum as reflected by its mission to provide a rigorous, relevant, and unique educational experience to its diverse student body, and create critical thinkers, life-long learners, and responsible citizens, who are prepared for college, career, and the global society. School Principal: Ms. Cora Christmas
20900 Oakwood Blvd., P.O. Box 1148
Dearborn, MI 48121-1148
(313) 982-6200
Lincoln-King Academy (K-8)
The Lincoln-King Academy received its charter as a K-8 academy in July 2009. The Academy, which has an enrollment of 345 students, has been designed to follow the Cornerstone School Curriculum and Program Model. The following are the major unique components that constitute the basis for the Cornerstone Model as adopted by the Lincoln-King Academy:
11-month calendar
Individualized instruction
College outreach and community partnerships
Service learning and leadership skills.
A rigorous core curriculum design.
The mission of the Lincoln-King Academy is to provide its students with excellent and rigorous education with measurable results, and to deliver a standards-based curriculum in conjunction with service learning to prepare responsible, civic minded youth who ready to lead. School Principal: Ms. Joyce Stephens
Management Company: Three Pillars
13436 Grove St.
Detroit, MI 48235-4297
Ph: (313) 862-2352
McGivney School Detroit (SDA-7-12)
The McGivney School Detroit is a Strict Discipline Academy (SDA) designed to serve students in grades 7-12, and who have been referred to the Holy Cross Children's residential program. The academy currently serves approximately 100 students. The mission of the McGivney School is to provide personalized instruction to students to allow them to "unlock the door to their individual development, and enable them to integrate within society as productive students and citizens." As a Strict Discipline Academy, McGivney is required to enroll those students who have been referred due to expulsions by their schools, placements by courts, or referrals by parents. Students attending McGivney receive individualized and differentiated instruction in core curriculum areas, in addition to health and physical education. The curriculum is augmented with additional learning opportunities to assist students to learn life skills, complete high school or achieve the GED, and prepare for post secondary education. Additionally, the academy delivers clinical services that include Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) to manage student behavior. Classes have been designed to maintain a ratio of 15:1 to ensure greater teacher-student interaction and to allow for individualized and differentiated instruction. Principal: Mr. Ryan Looney
(313) 895-2200
Main Site:
McGivney School Detroit
Holy Cross Center
5690 Cecil St.
Detroit, MI 48210
Satellite Locations/ Treatment Facilities:
St. Thomas House
8333 Townsend St.
Detroit, MI 48213
Bowman House
17200 Row St.
Detroit, MI 48205
