Allen Academy

I have to admit that this school has gone down over the last few years and I would not recommend it. I am Allen Alumni I do not recommend anyone's child to attend this school as it did not prepare me and many others for college. Although there are some very intelligent teachers there, the administration often hinders the full potential of teacher-student interaction and educational development due to awkward prioritizing. They can't keep any staff, they get rid of the great ones, the ones that pushed us or that we have developed relationships with and keep the bad ones, the ones in which they are friends/ family. They make sure we get accepted into colleges but they did not make sure we were prepared, and almost all of us are struggling. They need to bring the old Allen back!

Allen Academy is mediocre on its best day. Though the building is appealing, the students' academic performance is not. The students fail to meet state standards each year when administered the MEAP and MME, and the Michigan Department of Education has given Allen Academy a composite grade of "D-Alert". The academy misrepresents itself by listing, on this site, languages and extracurricular activities that it doesn't offer. There is no happy medium regarding discipline, either. Allen Academy's fix to any undesirable behavior is to suspend the child. The students receive lengthy suspensions for deeds that don't necessarily warrant suspensions...spending too much time out of school, which, in part, contributes to their low academic performance. The academy does a poor job communicating information that is relevant to the students, and trying to reach an administrator is like trying to find a needle in a haystack...virtually impossible! The principal is haughty...too good to sit and talk with parents regarding their children. Allen Academy's climate and poor academic performance is a direct reflection of its leadership.
—Submitted by a parent

Allen Academy is a school that offers a safe interior enviornment for their students. The cirriculum offered seems to be the state standard required cirriculum, however the students struggle with the state standardized test that is administer every year. In a closer observation they seem to lack the appropriate mentality to deal with their students. There seems to be no education of right or wrong given within the school and the penalty for any situation regardless of degree is suspension. It is impossible to gain an appointment with the administration and teachers regarding students. They are terrible at returning parent phone calls and there is rarely ever an opportunity for parent, teacher, administrator face to face interaction. At best the school only has the enrollment levels they have because there are limited educational institutions within the immediate area. There needs to be major restaffing starting with the school leader. This may help in improving Allen Academy's grade issued by the state which is currently a D.
—Submitted by a parent

Allen Academy has very little extracurricular activities for students, and the classes are not challenging. There is virtually no homework given, no language courses for Hi-School students, and pertinent info is passed to parents who are in a 'school click'. There is no music courses for middle/high school and the school needs Robert Bobb to turn it around.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm currently enrolled in Allen, im in the 8th grade. The teachers there really help me, with the exception of a couple. But overall its a really good school and they have a tremendous athletic program.One teacher their i have to acknowlege is Ms. Tesch she's really helpful and she helped me bring my grade up from a D to an A in math.
—Submitted by a student

I think at allen is a good school. It hepls the child alot. They know what thay are doing. I would say that allen is one of the best charter schools in detroit. -Jasmine-
—Submitted by Jasmine, a student

I think Allen is a pretty decent school. It's much better than any school in the DPS system. My children are learning much more and all their grades have gone up and there is not as many fights like at Winterhalterl. I think the principal and office people do a good job. They are always so helpful no matter what the issue is. Dr. Green is always outside helping the little ones in. I think most of the teachers do a good job. Some are not to professional The school should have more activities and classes to choose from for the older kids like drama or honor classes. The dress code should be improved. While my kids follow it, there are so many kids walking around looking bummy day after day. So that shows its not enforced. But overall it's a good school and we're never going back to detroit public.
—Submitted by Marie, a parent