Science Center sponsors new middle school

The University Prep charter system is opening a new middle school in partnership with the Detroit Science Center, reports the News. The middle school, which promises that at least 90% of its graduates will attend college, will be built as a new wing of the Science Center, which will also add more gallery space during construction.

The concept sounds great, and judging from other University Prep schools, the students will receive an excellent education. (Although the jury is out on whether charter schools in general perform any better than their public counterparts.) The question here is whether new charter schools will succeed at the expense of the existing public school system, depriving DPS of the resources and bright students it so badly needs to sustain itself, let alone revitalize itself.