Detroit district maintains growth in literacy and math on the 2026 M-STEP

Detroit Public Schools Community District posted small year-over-year gains in reading, writing, and math on the 2025-26 M-STEP, reaching a 12-year high in third-grade reading and writing proficiency. Even so, just 14.1% of DPSCD third graders scored proficient in reading compared to 38.2% statewide, a gap that remains stark despite the improvement.

Superintendent Nikolai Vitti framed the results as part of a broader turnaround, saying Detroit students are improving while others regress, and board chair LaTrice McClendon called for stronger literacy gains ahead. Independent researchers at Michigan State and Wayne State noted the multi-year trend suggests real systemic progress rather than a one-year blip, while cautioning that faster growth doesn't necessarily mean students cross the proficiency line.

The district has funneled part of a $94.4 million literacy lawsuit settlement into hiring additional academic interventionists and tutoring services. SAT results released the same day showed 35.1% of students meeting English benchmarks and 15.7% meeting math benchmarks, both up modestly since 2019.

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