The School at Marygrove Increases Access and Engagement with Middle School Expansion

As one of Detroit’s historic colleges closed its doors and a global pandemic dominated headlines, The School at Marygrove ushered in a new chapter of cutting-edge education while the rest of the world sheltered in place. With the first sixth-grade class debuting during the 2026-27 school year, the first-of-its-kind Detroit P20 partnership continues its mission of ensuring the success of Detroit’s children from early childhood through college and career. 

When COVID-19 struck, The School at Marygrove had no established foundation in place. Its origin story began with an idea to cultivate a social justice and engineering-focused curriculum and quickly evolved as construction got underway in 2019. Adversity emerged in the form of abrupt staff changes and leadership turnover. Yet the school’s dedication to building out a hybrid learning model designed to foster student voice and encourage youth empowerment would not be denied. 

Under the direction of Lisa Williams, The School at Marygrove’s current principal, and with a K-12 curriculum supported by Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) and the University of Michigan, along with financial backing from the Kresge Foundation, the institution has experienced rapid growth, adding a new grade every year since its inception. Williams notes that developing critical thinkers from K-12 has been the plan all along. 

“We start as early as possible, instilling in them pride about who they are, helping them to unpack their authenticity as a student and as a contributor into our learning community,” said Williams. “We are providing them with different opportunities to discover themselves, discover how they learn, how they think, and how they grow. One of the things we pride ourselves on is that a lot of our kids are coming from the community in which we’re housed.” 

Community engagement sits at the core of The School at Marygrove’s accelerated development. The revamped Marygrove campus positions itself as a neighborhood-friendly educational hub. In addition to early childcare and family services, elementary and high school students with siblings in attendance or living within a two-mile radius of Marygrove’s campus receive priority consideration for enrollment. 

Accessibility to project and place-based learning, along with a commitment to building up community while strengthening the neighborhood, is what sets The School at Marygrove apart from other DPSCD schools. Operated by Detroit P20 partner Starfish Family Services, Children from Marygrove Early Education Center can seamlessly advance from kindergarten to elementary school via automatic admission. All other elementary applicants are subject to a simple application process and a weighted random selection system while high school admission requires competitive testing. 

“DPSCD has a ton of different schools with different specialties. I think this one stands out because it’s on a college campus. It’s in the heart of the city, and our Black and brown kids get to experience this beautiful campus that was founded by a Black nun, Teresa Maxey,” Williams said. “Just knowing that we’re standing on her shoulders, this soil is rich in legacy. I see nothing but greatness happening in this space.”

So far, that greatness has translated to 100 graduates, a 97% graduation rate and $9 million in student scholarships this year alone. Williams anticipates sixth-grade enrollment will set another unprecedented milestone — a projected 60 to 75 students across three classrooms and one step closer to 1,000 students learning and thriving on campus from kindergarten through 12th grade. 

Some of those students have been part of the Marygrove community’s whole-child initiative since second grade and are vocal about their sense of pride and accomplishment in bridging the gap between elementary and high school. Students speaking up and standing up for what they believe is an integral part of The School at Marygrove’s vision. Williams firmly believes that empowered voices encourage change not only in the community but in the world at large. 

“You have a voice, and you have to use it in a positive way. You have to know how to talk, but you gotta be able to tap into that voice to be heard and not ignored. Then you gotta understand what you think and what you feel, and learn how to express it in a way [so] your opinion is valued,” said Williams. “That’s the tone, and that’s the culture that we try to set here, giving them voice, but teaching them how to use the voice. Those are the things that we pride ourselves on with our scholars.”