A Message From Our CEO

Our U Prep Schools Vision Statement says, "University Prep Schools provides a culturally responsive educational experience for our scholars that builds academic competence, habits of work and scholarship, and self-actualization, empowering them to successfully accomplish their post-secondary plans, as well as socially and civically, engage as change agents for themselves and their community."

Our school leaders and instructional staff have been engaging students and providing a space for them to express their feelings of frustration, fear, confusion and even activism amidst the civil unrest in our country due to the stains of racial inequality and police brutality. We are not new to this work.

As our vision is rooted in being a culturally responsive community, we work to disrupt our country’s racist structures and systemic inequality by ensuring we continue to create and provide learning environments that are healing and affirming for our students and our families. It is with this lens and this charge that we have stood with our families in solidarity during these final weeks of this school year.

Danielle Jackson

Interim CEO

Detroit 90/90 & U Prep Schools

We love hearing from our graduates after they have moved on to college or started their careers. Check out this powerful story from Grand Valley State University, featuring two U Prep grads, Tamara Bailey and Amanda Dotson.

These two young women were recipients of the University Prep Academy Scholarship, which was created by Bob and Ellen Thompson.

Click the link below to read more about these scholarship recipients and to learn about this scholarship program from the Thompsons, the philanthropists who funded the creation of University Prep schools because of their commitment to education in Detroit.

We continue to encourage our students to become involved in community conversations, like the current Black Lives Matter protests that are happening across the country. Here’s how some of our schools have participated:

UPA High School is currently flying the the Black Lives Matter flag and the Pride flag, along with the U.S. flag, in front of their school, something the student body requested. “To have these flags up allows for every student walking onto the campus to feel safe, included and accepted. The American Flag alone doesn’t speak for everyone. These flags fly as a symbol of inclusivity. All black lives matter, therefore we stand together,” said Tatianna, UPA HS Student Body President.

Students from University Preparatory Art & Design participated in a massive street mural project, painting “Power to the People” on Woodward Avenue in preparation for a Juneteenth celebration. UPAD Art & Design Chair, Manal Kadry, shared that they partnered with Grand Valley State University alumni and artist Hubert Massey to bring this incredible creation to Detroit.

UPAD students also participated in the One Nation Youth March, where Alycia, an 8th grade student at UPAD MS and Heaven, a 10th grade student at UPAD HS spoke publicly, sharing their thoughts on how Black Americans are treated in our country and promoting racial justice.

We are so proud of our students for their activism for change!

Our goal at University Prep Schools is to prepare students to take on challenges academically and in their lives. As a community, we demonstrate that priority by implementing Restorative Practices as a foundation for our schools.

If you are not familiar with Restorative Practices and how they work, watch our video to learn more and see how they influence our students' work habits and attitudes - both in and out of the classroom.

The celebrated NOTA Art & Design Show and Sale has moved online this year due to our state's continuing social distancing.

We are happy to report that, with this year's NOTA website , we've exceeded our past records for art sales, with funds going to support our UPAD middle school and high school scholars.

Help us celebrate our talented students by visiting the site today. Click the link below to see the awardees, view more student artwork, and buy student art.

University Prep Academy High School created and produced "The Graduation" for their class of 2020. Despite not being able to graduate at the Opera House as has been done in the past, The Graduation featured student performances, surprise celebrity appearances, and most importantly, the graduating Class of 2020. Dean of Culture Jerry Lawrence told us, “The Class of 2020 is the face of what we consider to be the latest era of University Prep Academy. This class led their school in re-imagining what it means to be a U Prep Panther. The UPA Class of 2020 is a legendary class that undoubtedly will go on to change their pockets of the world.”

At UPAD High School, the senior class creates an Art Legacy Gift for the school every year, to hang in the building in their memory. The 2020 Art Legacy Gift was created by Isis Earth, who will attend The College for Creative Studies in the fall on full four-year scholarship. Isis shared this about the Art Legacy piece: “This piece depicts the current events that have heavily affected everyone within the past four months. We’ve been fighting to keep our sanity ... We’ve been fighting for our family members who have been diagnosed with the COVID-19. We’ve been fighting against police brutality and racial injustice. We’ve been fighting the urge to simply GIVE UP … despite the chaos and madness that we experienced during our senior year, we still managed to make it out on top.” The UPAD HS Class of 2020 virtual graduation featured keynote speaker Dr. Daniel Black, a Professor at Clark Atlanta University and author of several books.

UPSM High School hosted a virtual graduation, with students showcased during a video of imagery from their participation in school events, clubs and sports throughout the year. Graduation speakers included the senior class president and valedictorian Priya Patterson-Lee, UPSM HS School Director Dr. John Lockhart, and U Prep Schools' Interim CEO Danielle Jackson. Senior cap and gown photos were displayed as each student was recognized with teachers called their own scholars' names, before junior scholar Lauryn Pore sung the Black National Anthem.

Seats are still available in Kindergarten at University Prep Art & Design Elementary School and 6th grade classrooms across all three of our networks in the fall! Although we cannot currently offer in-person visits or the opportunity to tour our campuses, it would be our honor for invite your friends and family members to be our guests at one of our Virtual Open Houses. There, they will meet our amazing teaching and school leadership staff, and learn more about the U Prep difference!  

One happy UPA parent told us, “My scholar has grown from a child into a young man. He has gained tools that he applies to his life daily. U Prep has taught him that if he applies himself to his best ability, the sky’s the limit for his education and career.”

If you are already a U Prep family, please share this link - http://bit.ly/2Sb5k6d - with friends and family members who may be interested in joining us. There they'll find upcoming dates for the Open Houses at each school listed, along with the contact information for each school’s representative.

Considering a U Prep School? Since on-site visits are so limited during the pandemic, our marketing team has created virtual tours for each of our 10 schools. If you are considering enrolling your child at U Prep, click the link below to visit each school's web page and view the school's video tour.

Every spring, in all of our U Prep districts, our fifth graders and eighth graders get to experience Crossover Day, a chance to visit their new middle school or high school, so they are informed and comfortable when they start the year in the fall.

At UPSM Middle School this spring, current scholars served as ambassadors, helping the incoming sixth graders learn about their new school. These experienced students answered questions from the fifth graders and discussed the school's logistics with class and professionalism. Future families were also taken on a virtual tour of the building.

For the UPSM MS eighth graders, the Crew created a farewell video, featuring the events throughout the year and held a Promotion Ceremony on Zoom.

Wishing all of our scholars who are transitioning to a new school the best of luck next fall!

Whenever you order from Amazon, you can donate to U Prep Schools whenever you shop on Amazon.com using Amazon Smile. Just sign up at the link below and choose "Detroit 90-90" as your charity. It will not cost you a penny!