By every metric and ranking, the top schools in Detroit are all charter schools, and that trend continued when the Michigan Department of Education recently released the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores for 2026. The test was taken by high school juniors across the state this fall.
A check by the Detroit News of all the open-enrollment high schools in Detroit showed that the top seven schools were all charter schools. An open-enrollment school is one that accepts all students without making them take a test or submit an application. Some schools in the Detroit Public Schools Community District are selective-enrollment schools; all charter schools across the state are open enrollment. Charter schools are free, public, and open to all.
The school with the highest SAT scores in Detroit is Jalen Rose Leadership Academy (JRLA), located on the city’s northwest side. JRLA opened in 2011 and was co-founded by Jalen Rose, a basketball star and community icon who grew up in Detroit, and Michael Carter, a Detroit businessman.
JRLA features rigorous academics and strong character education, guided by its motto: “Enter a Learner, Exit a Leader.” Students are referred to as “scholars,” and the school has a unique 9-16 model — supporting scholars not only through grades 9-12, but also through college (grades 13-16).
JRLA has operated as a high school since its founding, but the school recently announced that it will expand to include a middle school, starting in fall 2027.
The top seven schools on this year’s SAT rankings in Detroit are all charter schools, serving the city’s diverse student population. Here are the top eight highest-scoring open-enrollment high schools on the 2026 SAT:
It’s not unusual to see charter schools at the top of Detroit school rankings. In addition to the SAT, charter schools also fill all the top spots on the rankings of schools that send the most graduates to college, U.S. News and World Report rankings, M-STEP scores for third-grade reading, and more.
“Rankings, test scores and college readiness are certainly important measures of academic success, and it’s noteworthy that in Detroit, charter schools lead the way,” said Dan Quisenberry, president of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA), the state charter school association. “We know that schools need to continue to improve across the board, and charter schools are proud to serve as leaders in that effort.”
Why do Detroit charter schools consistently outperform on rankings like the SAT?
Charter schools have flexibility over curriculum, class size, and instructional model that traditional district schools don't always have, which allows for more personalized, rigorous academics.
How does the SAT relate to college admissions and readiness?
Many colleges and universities use the SAT as one factor in admissions decisions, and Michigan requires the test statewide for high school juniors as part of its accountability system. Strong SAT performance is often cited alongside other measures, like college enrollment and completion rates, as an indicator of how well a high school prepares students for postsecondary success.
What does "open enrollment" mean for families choosing a school?
Open enrollment means a family can enroll their child without an entrance exam, application review, or other selection criteria — the school must accept any student who applies, space permitting. This matters for comparisons like the SAT rankings above, since it means these charter schools are competing on outcomes without the advantage of pre-selecting academically stronger students, unlike a selective-enrollment school.
Where can families find more information on charter schools in Detroit?
The Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA) maintains information on the state's public charter schools, including school profiles and performance data, for families researching their options.
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