U Prep Honors former CEO Danielle L. Jackson with Dedication

Detroit, Mich. — (September 19, 2025) – Detroit-based University Prep Schools, Detroit’s largest charter school network, comprised of three districts and 10 schools from kindergarten through high school, is pleased to announce the dedication of one of its school buildings in honor of a long-term University Prep Schools’ leader, Danielle L. Jackson.

An education innovator, Jackson recently retired as CEO of University Prep Schools. She will be honored in a ceremony on September 18, 2025, for her 18 years of dedicated service to the U Prep community, also including roles as Chief Academic Officer and her start as a principal at UPA High School, which is being dedicated in her honor with a permanent building plaque. 

Interim CEO of University Prep Schools John Cleary, who worked closely with Jackson in his role as Vice President of the Thompson Foundation and on the Public School Academies of Detroit Board, the board that governs University Prep Schools, praised Jackson for her commitment to the University Prep Schools community.

“Danielle Jackson loved the University Prep Schools and dedicated her time and energy to the U for 18 years. On behalf of the Public School Academies of Detroit Board, we are grateful for her many contributions and pleased to have this lasting recognition of her accomplishments through the Danielle L. Jackson Building as she moves on to enjoy her retirement years,” Cleary said.

University Prep Academy High School is located at 600 Antoinette, Detroit.  

About University Prep Schools

University Prep Schools (U Prep Schools) is a tuition-free charter school network comprised of three distinct districts: University Prep Academy (UPA), University Prep Science & Math (UPSM), and University Prep Art & Design (UPAD). Between the three districts, there are 10 state-of-the-art schools – four elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools - all located throughout the heart of Detroit. Established in 2000, all of the school buildings within U Prep Schools were built through funding from the Plymouth, Michigan-based Thompson Foundation, which continues to support the school in a variety of ways, including charging only $1 for rent per year for each school building. The cornerstone of the U Prep Schools is the 90/90 promise: that 90% of students entering ninth grade will graduate and 90% will go on to attend college, the military, or trade/technical pursuit.  Learn more here.