Fast Learners: Two Charter School Student-Athletes Win State Championships in Track

Fast Learners: Two Charter School Student-Athletes Win State Championships in Track.

A spectacular sports season for Michigan’s charter school student-athletes wrapped up in fine fashion in late May, as two charter school speedsters won state track championships.

Eliza Bush, a senior at Arbor Preparatory High School in Ypsilanti, took home the Division 3 state 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.

At the Division 3 boys’ meet, meanwhile, junior Dennis Jackson of Detroit Edison Public School Academy won the 400 meters in a state-meet record of 47.79 seconds. Dennis also took fourth in the 200 meters, running a 22.73.

“There’s this myth that charter schools don’t offer sports – this should put that to rest,” said Dan Quisenberry, President of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA). “Some of the best student-athletes, teams and coaches in the state can be found at charter schools. Our teams won state championships, regional championships, everything. Congratulations to Eliza and Dennis and all the other student-athletes on a phenomenal season.”

Arbor Prep’s Eliza Bush is graduating as one of the most celebrated and successful multi-sport athletes in Michigan high school history. As a point guard on the Arbor Prep basketball team, she won state championships in her freshman, junior and senior seasons. She was also named First Team All-State in basketball this season.

On the track, she capped off a spectacular career with a state title, making her a state champion in two sports. And for good measure, she also finished second at the Division 3 state cross country meet last fall.

Eliza was just as spectacular in the classroom, where she was Arbor Prep’s Salutatorian for the Class of 2025.

Eliza lives in Dexter but, opted to attend Arbor Prep because of its reputation for both academic and athletic excellence. She served as a ball girl for the basketball team starting in fifth grade.

“I really liked going to their practices and games,” she told the MHSAA. “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 had the opportunity to play any of her sports in college, but she opted to concentrate on track & field. She accepted a full-ride scholarship to attend Oakland University with the goal of pursuing a career in medicine.

Over at DEPSA, meanwhile, junior Dennis Jackson exploded onto the state track scene this season and became one of the most celebrated sprinters in the state.

After sitting out last season due to injury, he took the track world by storm in 2025, capping it all by winning the state title in the 400. His 47.79 in the state final smashed the previous record of 48.17, which had stood for 11 years.

In addition to his fourth-place finish in the 200 meters, he also ran a leg on DEPSA’s 4x100 relay, which took fifth place. In that race, he was joined by teammates Cedrick Johnson, Mekhi James-Davis and Andre Neal. Dennis ran the anchor leg.

With another year of high school competition left, the future looks bright for Dennis.