Burton International Academy

Burton International Academy is a primary school of average-sized scale in DETROIT, Michigan, run under Detroit Public Schools Community District, hosting 482 students in grades pre-K through 8. Compared to the state average of about 369 students per school, that is 31% bigger than typical.

Detroit Public Schools Community District comprises 103 schools with combined enrollment of 48,448 students; Burton International Academy is among them.

Demographically, Burton International Academy reports that nearly all students (98%) are Black. The wider county runs roughly 37% Black, putting the school's mix meaningfully more Black than the area baseline.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Burton International Academy records 28 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 17.2:1. That figure is higher than the state norm's 15.8:1 average. Around 90% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. By comparison, Wayne County runs at roughly 66%, so the school's eligibility rate is higher than the surrounding baseline.

In the area at large, census data for Wayne County shows median household income runs about $60,539, roughly 28% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 16%. Burton International Academy is one of 573 public schools in Wayne County (combined enrollment of about 259,786 students).

The closest other public school is Covenant High School Central, roughly 0.6 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

Burton International Academy operates from a downtown location.

Looking at the recent track record. Over the past 7-year window, the student count ticked down 24%: 632 students in 2018 compared to 482 in 2025. The Black share of enrollment climbed from 89% to 98% over that span. Class-load math has tightened: from 19.8:1 in 2018 to 17.2:1 in 2025.

On the community side, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around fundraisers, lost-and-found posts, and report-card season. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.