Eliza Bush is a student-athlete in every sense: She’s excelled at the highest levels as both a student and an athlete. And thanks to the outstanding experiences she’s had at her charter school, she’s poised for success at the next level.
A 2025 graduate of Arbor Preparatory High School in Ypsilanti, Eliza is one of the most celebrated multi-sport athletes in Michigan history. She won three state championships in girls’ basketball, one state championship in track and was an All-Stater in cross-country, as well.
And in the classroom, she earned a spot as the Salutatorian for the Arbor Prep Class of 2025, taking a course load over her four years that was heavy in AP and college-prep classes.
Eliza lives in Dexter, an affluent community in Washtenaw County, but chose to attend Arbor Prep because of its diversity, the academically rigorous curriculum and its outstanding athletic program. She began hanging around the basketball team in fifth grade, because her dad was on the coaching staff.
“I really liked going to their practices and games,” she said. “When I was younger, I would go to a lot of their games because they’ve always been so good. The team became like sisters to me, and it made me want to go there.”
Eliza also liked the diversity of the student body and the individualized academic approach she’d be getting at Arbor Prep.
"I think it's really cool because you get to see people from different backgrounds,” she told us when she was a junior.
“I mean, it's not just where you're used to just only seeing people that come from the same background as you, and you get to relate to everyone. Even if people are different from you, you can still relate to them in some way. So I think it's really cool because I've been able to make friendships with people that I wouldn't have been able to if I didn't come here.”
Arbor Prep is authorized by Bay Mills Community College and managed by National Heritage Academies and has a rigorous academic program that requires each student to take a variety of Advanced Placement classes. Eliza thrived in the classroom while also becoming one of the most celebrated multi-sport athletes the state has ever seen.
Eliza ran cross-country in the fall, played point guard on the basketball team in the winter and ran track in the spring (as almost a one-woman track team at Arbor Prep). Her accomplishments were staggering.
In cross-country, she was All-State all four years and finished second in the Division 3 state meet last fall. In basketball, she helped the Gators win three state championships during her four years, including back-to-back state titles in 2024 and 2025. This season, she was named first-team All-State in Division 3.
And then this spring, she capped it off at the Division 3 state track meet by winning the championship in the 3,200 meters, literally running away from the field to win in 10:54.47. She was 11 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. Eliza also took second in the 1,600 meters, finishing at 5:02.49.
Three sports, three All-State honors. All while excelling at the highest level in the classroom. In every way, Arbor Prep was the perfect school for Eliza.
“I feel like that's what really makes it different compared to other schools because it is preparing you for the next step,” she said.
For Eliza, the next step will be Oakland University, where she earned a full-ride scholarship to compete on the track team (she’ll have to give up the other sports). She’s very much looking forward to not being the only member of the track team.
“It was a very hard choice (giving up basketball). I think I’ve always focused more on basketball. I’m curious to see what it will be like doing (running) year-round,” she said. “I’m looking forward to running in college, to have teammates to work out with and push each other.”
Eliza has always been interested at a career in medicine, and she’ll be majoring in pre-med with an eye on becoming a physician’s assistant.
Authorized by Bay Mills Community College, Managed by National Heritage Academy / Arbor Preparatory High School is a 9-12 Public School Academy located in Ypsilanti.