This year, students from Bagley Elementary, Bates Academy, Bunche Preparatory Academy, Chrysler Elementary, Davison Elementary-Middle School, Edison Elementary, Mackenzie Elementary-Middle School, and Renaissance High School were recognized as winners at the state and national levels for Academic Games. THE 2025–2026 SEASON WAS OUTSTANDING FOR DPSCD STUDENTS, AS TEAMS CONTINUED TO RAISE THE BAR—SECURING TITLES ACROSS VARIOUS CATEGORIES AT BOTH STATE AND NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS. CHESS In Chess, 10 DPSCD teams qualified for the National Chess Championships: Bates Academy, Brewer Academy, Bunche Preparatory Academy, Cass Technical High School, Davison Elementary-Middle School, Earhart Elementary-Middle School, Edmonson Montessori, Palmer Park Preparatory Academy, Renaissance High School, and The School at Marygrove. At the state level, Cass Technical High School and Renaissance High School captured the 2026 State Chess Championships in the Open and U1000 divisions at Oakland University. Bates Academy also earned a State Championship title in the K–5 Under 400 division. Nationally, Renaissance High School won the 2026 K–12 Blitz Under 1800 National Championship, while Bates Academy captured the K–8 Under 1600 National Championship title. ROBOTICS In Robotics, Detroit Public Schools Community District had its largest group of teams qualify for State Competition in recent history. Those qualifying schools included Academy of the Americas, Bates Academy, Davison Elementary- Middle School, Detroit School of Arts, Foreign Language Immersion and Cultural Studies School, Renaissance High School, Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School, Marcus Garvey Academy, Bethune Elementary-Middle School, Earhart Elementary-Middle School, and The School at Marygrove. In addition, one DPSCD high school team qualified for the World Robotics Championships, marking the first time in nearly 20 years that a DPSCD high school robotics team advanced to the world stage. ACADEMIC GAMES In Academic Games, 10 DPSCD teams qualified for the National Tournament in Charlotte. Those teams included Bates Academy, Bunche Preparatory Academy, Cass Technical High School, Chrysler Elementary School, Clippert Academy, Edison Elementary School, Foreign Language Immersion and Cultural Studies School, Munger Elementary-Middle School, Renaissance High School, and Southeastern High School. Teams from Bunche Preparatory Academy, Chrysler Elementary School, and Edison Elementary School earned a 4th-place national finish in Current Events. In addition, Kayode Whitfield earned an individual Large Silver Thinker Award for a 2nd-place finish in Current Events. Several DPSCD students and teams also earned top individual placements throughout the competition, continuing the district’s tradition of excellence on the national Academic Games stage. CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION Picking the Perfect School Guide - 2026-2027 | www.detroitk12.org 19
