An estimated third of the school's entering freshmen come from private or parochial middle schools, simply to attend what they see as the premier school in the city. Students from the highest achievement levels often choose to attend Renaissance because of its small size and its reputation for academic excellence, which extends well beyond Detroit itself.

With 860 students, Renaissance is the smallest of Detroit's public high schools. Although the ethnic composition of the school is similar to that of other schools in the district (nearly 100% African American), the majority of Renaissance students' parents are middle-class professionals and community leaders who have high expectations for their children's academic success. In 1998, U.S. News and World Report recognized Renaissance as one of the top 100 public schools in America, citing its academic focus and expectations for excellence as distinguishing features of the school.