Leadership
District profile / Michigan
Detroit Public Schools Community District
48,828
Students
2024-25 school year
104
Schools
2024-25 school year
$17,246
Spending per student
FY2020-21 · 49% above the Michigan median
16.1
Students per teacher
2024-25 · Michigan median 16.8
Detroit Public Schools Community District is a public school district based in Detroit, Michigan, serving 48,828 students in 104 schools. By enrollment it ranks #1 of the 316 Michigan districts with 1,000 or more students, making it the largest in the state. Its schools average 470 students each, more than the Michigan median of 421. Its superintendent is Nikolai Vitti. It spends about $17,246 per student on day-to-day operations, 49% more than the Michigan median. It has roughly 16.1 students per teacher. We've matched 81 news stories to the district.
How Detroit Public Schools Community compares
Detroit Public Schools CommunityMichigan median, districts with 1,000+ students
Spending and staffing
Where the money comes from$932.7 million in revenue · FY2020-21
Federal 32%State 59%Local 9%
| Measure | Detroit Public Schools Community | Michigan median | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current spending per student | $17,246 | $11,576 | FY2020-21 |
| Instruction spending per student | $8,227 | $7,157 | FY2020-21 |
| Total spending | $872.3 million | n/a | FY2020-21 |
| Total revenue | $932.7 million | n/a | FY2020-21 |
| Teachers (full-time equivalent) | 3,031 | n/a | 2024-25 |
| Total staff (full-time equivalent) | 6,928 | n/a | 2024-25 |
| Students per teacher | 16.1 | 16.8 | 2024-25 |
| Students per counselor | 351 | 585 | 2024-25 |
Spending: NCES school district finance survey (F-33), FY2020-21. Staffing and enrollment: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25. Via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. The Michigan median compares districts with 1,000 or more students.
Leadership
Moves tracker →Nikolai Vitti
Source: Michigan CEPI Educational Entity Master, checked 2026-10-04. Report a change
In the news
81 stories matchedTeaching & learning
Recovery to reinvention: How Detroit Public Schools Community District is building for the future
Teaching & learning
Detroit needs more special education teachers. MSU partnership aims to help.
Teaching & learning
MSU, Detroit schools work to address shortage of special ed teachers
Leadership
Detroit school board’s new elected members bring history, criticism, and fresh ideas
Leadership
Here’s who won five seats on the Detroit school board
Leadership
Some familiar faces win seats on the Detroit school board in pivotal election
Leadership
Detroit school board race: What's at stake for parents, students
Leadership
Detroit voters to elect new school board majority in consequential election
Infrastructure
DPSCD Celebrates Groundbreaking and New School Name Unveiling: Southwest International Academy of Arts and Culture
Leadership
Detroit School Board Candidates Debate DPSCD's Future
Leadership
Candidates Answer Pressing Questions at DPSCD School Board Forum Ahead of Nov. 3 Election
Teaching & learning
Detroit Schools Propose $8.7m To Restore Libraries in 89 Schools
Teaching & learning
Detroit Schools Propose Reviving Libraries in 89 Buildings
Leadership
1 Detroit school board candidate raised nearly 80% of campaign money, finance statements show
Leadership
Some Detroit school board candidates spent campaign contributions on clothing, travel, and meals
Teaching & learning
Detroit schools eye library revival amid low literacy rates
Teaching & learning
Granholm, not Republicans, put Detroit Schools under state control in 2009
Leadership
Detroit school district proposes bringing libraries back to 89 schools
Teaching & learning
MSU, Detroit Public Schools Community District partner on autism education
Leadership
Protect the Future of Detroit’s Black Youth by Voting Harris, Smith, Whitfield, Jones, and Moore for DPSCD School Board
Leadership
Election 2026: Endorsements in the Detroit school board races
Teaching & learning
Detroit Public Schools breaks ground on Southwest International Academy of Arts and Culture
Leadership
4 Detroit school board candidates have felony convictions, analysis finds
Leadership
34 people are running for Detroit school board. Here's where they stand on issues
Technology & AI
Verizon Launches Michigan's First Innovative Learning Lab to Boost Tech Education in Detroit Schools
Teaching & learning
Operation: Rack and Roll brings new bike racks to Detroit schools near Joe Louis Greenway
Teaching & learning
Too young to vote, but DPSCD students have lots to say about the district’s next chapter
Leadership
Five seats at stake in Detroit school board election
Leadership
What does the Detroit school board control? A guide for voters
Peer districts in Michigan
Compare side by side →| District | Students | Schools | Spending per student | Students per teacher | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Public Schools Community DistrictDetroit · this district | 48,828 | 104 | $17,246 | 16.1 | #1 |
| Utica Community SchoolsSterling Heights | 25,297 | 37 | $11,538 | 17.9 | #2 |
| Dearborn City School DistrictDearborn | 19,262 | 37 | $13,709 | 14.8 | #3 |
| Ann Arbor Public SchoolsAnn Arbor | 16,871 | 32 | $15,265 | 14.9 | #4 |
| Plymouth-Canton Community SchoolsPlymouth | 16,083 | 23 | $11,951 | 17.7 | #5 |
Similar-size districts nationally
| District | Students | Spending per student | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County SchoolsFayetteville, NC | 49,002 | $10,286 | 16.8 |
| San Francisco UnifiedSan Francisco, CA | 48,902 | $17,416 | 21.0 |
| Horry 01Conway, SC | 48,662 | $11,927 | 14.5 |
| Humble ISDHumble, TX | 48,502 | $10,341 | 14.9 |
Peers are the districts closest in enrollment, so they can still differ in many other ways. Enrollment, school counts and phone numbers are from the NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25.
Printed from Superintendent's Corner: https://superintendentscorner.com/district-mi-detroit-public-schools-community-district