Report: Michigan Students Face Deep Inequities to Advanced, Rigorous Coursework

Contact: Jennifer Mrozowski, Senior Director, Strategic Communications & External Relations [email protected]

Report: Michigan Students Face Deep Inequities to Advanced, Rigorous Coursework

New analysis finds that students with the greatest needs face added barriers to advanced coursework offerings, career and technical education, and dual enrollment

DETROIT, MI – Students in Michigan’s wealthiest communities have, on average, over seven times more Advanced Placement (AP) course options than students in the highest poverty communities, according to a new EdTrust-Midwest report released today — an inequity that mirrors broader gaps in access to opportunity.

This disparity is one of several findings that illustrate persistent inequities across the state. Too many Michigan students — especially students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, and students with disabilities — lack access to rigorous coursework and critical resources, such as school counselors, who unlock college and career opportunities.

And when Michigan students pursue rigorous coursework opportunities, their schools offer fewer options, on average, than those in other states, according to the report, “Ready for Rigor: Expanding Access to Rigorous Coursework in Michigan.”

For instance, during the 2024-25 academic year, only 42% of Michigan public high schools offered at least one AP STEM course, whereas 55% of U.S. high schools overall offered at least one AP STEM course. This leaves Michigan students who are interested in STEM careers, like engineering and healthcare, shut out from opportunities that can shape their lives after high school.

In the new report, EdTrust-Midwest researchers found:

• Michigan’s Black and Latino students, students with disabilities, and English learners are less likely to be enrolled in AP courses than their white peers.
• Michigan falls far behind the national dual enrollment rates, and Michigan’s dual enrollment does not reflect the diversity of the state’s student body. During the 2021-22 school year – the most recent year for which federal data are available – students of color made up just 22% of dual enrolled students but comprised 34% of the state’s high school enrollment.
• Students of color, English learners, and students with disabilities pass Algebra I at lower rates than the state average. For instance, in the 2021-22 academic year, only 64% of Black students passed Algebra I by 10th grade, the lowest rate among all reported groups and well below the statewide average passing rate of 74%.

“Every Michigan student deserves a high school education that prepares them for college and the workforce,” said Brian L. Love, state director of EdTrust-Midwest. “But right now, Michigan students do not have equitable access to rigorous coursework and other opportunities that set them up for success. The picture is even worse for students with the greatest needs. We need to change that.”

Researchers highlighted barriers, like “opt-in” policies and exam fees, that make it harder for students who are underserved to access advanced courses or other rigorous offerings.

“These disparities are not only troubling but come with consequences,” said Charlotte Pierce, senior policy analyst at EdTrust-Midwest and the author of the report. “When students have access to advanced coursework, they are more engaged, have fewer absences and suspensions, and are more likely to graduate. Yet, fewer AP opportunities and less access to advanced coursework means less competitive college applications and fewer college credit-earning opportunities.”

The report offers immediate recommendations to expand access to rigorous coursework and ensure that every Michigan student graduates from high school with the resources and skills needed to be college- and career-ready.

Recommendations include implementing policies to automatically enroll qualified students in advanced coursework; continuing and streamlining fee support for AP, International Baccalaureate (IB), and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) testing; creating a stronger statewide funding approach for dual enrollment; investing in career and technical education; strengthening the school counselor pipeline; and implementing FAFSA completion as a graduation requirement with supports in place for families.

“If we are serious about expanding access to rigorous coursework, we have to start by investing in the educators and counselors who make that access possible,” said Curtis L. Lewis, Ph.D., founder/president of Boldly Moving Education Ahead, a partner organization in the Michigan Partnership for Equity and Opportunity (MPEO) coalition. “When teachers are supported and students have consistent guidance, we see stronger engagement, higher achievement, and more young people prepared for what comes next.”

“This report makes clear that access to rigorous learning isn’t just about courses — it’s about capacity,” Lewis said. “When educators and counselors are stretched too thin, students — especially those in underserved communities lose out on the guidance and support they need to step into advanced opportunities and succeed.”

“The gaps this report documents are not a surprise to the teachers I work with across Michigan; they see them in their classrooms every day,” said Ben Locke, executive director of Teach Plus Michigan. “That’s exactly why Teach Plus, in coalition with partners like EdTrust-Midwest and our teacher leaders, has set a goal to close those gaps. Access to rigorous postsecondary-focused courses and experiences like AP and dual enrollment should be a reality for every Michigan student, regardless of zip code or background. Teachers know what their students need. It’s time our policies reflect that.”

Despite the challenges ahead, the report underscores promising practices and opportunities.

“While the challenges are significant, there is reason for hope,” said Alice Thompson, chair of the Detroit NAACP’s education committee, CEO of BFDI Educational Services, and co-chair of MPEO. “Through research-backed policies and targeted investments, we can build a stronger college and career readiness system in Michigan to ensure more students leave high school with real choices and real opportunity.”