Community Insights

The Grosse Pointe Public School System

Grosse Pointe is very fortunate to have one of the finest school systems in the nation. In standardized testing, Grosse Pointe ranks in the top one percent of school systems nationwide.

The “community schools concept” allows families to participate in their child’s elementary, middle and high school experience. Excellent teachers and staff offer exemplary learning opportunities for children of all abilities. This “community” school concept is such that Grosse Pointe has no need for school busses. Elementary school-aged children are within walking distance to their schools.

Nine elementary schools provide instruction from Kindergarten through Grade 5 and feed into three middle schools providing instruction in Grade 6, 7 and 8. Grosse Pointe South High and Grosse Pointe North High schools serve the entire Grosse Pointe community from Grade 9 through 12. Barnard Center, located within Grosse Pointe Woods on the Children’s Home of Detroit grounds, serves the elementary school age residents.

Grosse Pointe Academy

The Grosse Pointe Academy is an independent, coeducational day school serving children age 2 1/2 through Grade 8. GPA foster’s an inclusive environment that respects all cultures and religious beliefs. They seek to remain faithful to our heritage as a former Academy of the Sacred Heart and to those who through their Catholic faith and perseverance sought to preserve and enhance the legacy of this past for generations. Incorporated as a non-profit institution, The Grosse Pointe Academy is directed by a Board of Trustees working together to serve the Southeastern Michigan community.

University Liggett

University Liggett School, a coeducational, college preparatory day school, was formed in 1969 by a merger of Grosse Pointe University School and The Liggett School, founded in 1877. Admission is competitive, based upon personal interview, testing, academic record and references. ULS seeks a diversified student body that is representative of metropolitan Detroit in pre-kindergarten through the twelfth grade. Limited class sizes and challenging academics shape students, giving them a keen sense of self while simultaneously fostering lifelong appreciation for and an understanding of learning. The Liggett instructional method is based on critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, adaptability and universalism. These foundational characteristics are woven in at all levels of instruction and in all academic areas, including reading and writing, mathematics, science, technology and affective and emotional intelligence.

Our Lady Star of the Sea

Father Ralph Barton, the first pastor, envisioned a church and a school on the vacant farmland in Grosse Pointe Woods. The beginning of his dream was a church, which was built and dedicated in the fall of 1955. The elementary school opened its doors in the fall of 1958, followed by the high school’s opening in the fall of 1959.The high school flourished as an all girls’ high school until its closing in the spring of 1993. From that point on, the high school became our middle school building. With community growth and constant repairs, Star Committee concluded that a new church building was the best solution. Our Lady Star of the Sea’s new church opened its doors on Nov. 27, 1999.  The staff and students at Our Lady Star of the Sea School strive to live out the school’s mission statement each day. They have over 40 dedicated staff members serving our school community. The current enrollment is approximately 350 students, ranging from our 3 year old preschool through eighth grade.

St Clare of Montefalco

St. Clare of Montefalco is a Christian community committed to excellence and uniqueness through extraordinary effort and love. It practices Christian beliefs by providing an atmosphere which encourages each member to develop a sense of personal worth, academic excellence, and Christian responsibility. It fosters a climate of moral awareness, social responsibility and respect for one another. In so doing, this school community is sharing its common belief in Jesus Christ.

St Paul Catholic School

St. Paul on the Lake Catholic School is community with a rich heritage and a bright future. Jesus Christ, is the foundation on which St. Paul school was built. His words and teachings permeate our daily lives and curriculum. Founded in 1927, children are encouraged to practice Christ’s values and become servant leaders in the future, making the world a better place. With a “highly qualified” faculty and a curriculum infused with technology and global knowledge, St. Paul students are prepared to take on the challenges of higher education.