Michigan Charter Students Outpace State Averages in National Ranking
While Michigan currently sits at 45th in national education rankings, students attending National Heritage Academies (NHA) are performing at a top-tier level. A new study by Basis Policy Research suggests that if NHA schools were evaluated as a standalone state, their eighth-graders would rank fourth in reading and tenth in math.
This academic performance stands in sharp contrast to broader state trends. Stanford University’s Center for Research on Educational Outcomes (CREDO) bolstered these findings, reporting that NHA students gained 69 additional days of learning in math and 46 in reading when compared to their peers in traditional public schools. NHA President Nick Sheltrown attributes these results to a combination of rigorous coursework and a character-based Moral Focus program, which 85% of surveyed parents credit for positively influencing their children.
The network's success is further reflected in recent institutional accolades. Ten NHA partner schools secured spots in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 list of Michigan’s best charter schools. Additionally, institutions like Eagle Crest Charter Academy and Windemere Park Charter Academy have been recognized for closing achievement gaps, while seven schools within the network have earned National Blue Ribbon status. Researchers reached these conclusions by benchmarking 2022 M-STEP scores against the National Assessment of Educational Progress, effectively projecting how these students would compete on a national stage.
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