Detroit schools move to full demolition of Cooley High this summer

Detroit Public Schools Community District is now moving toward full demolition of Cooley High School this summer, dropping earlier ideas of saving part of the facade. District leaders say the change is tied to the timeline attached to a $15 million state grant and to the need to clear the site before the next phase of redevelopment can begin.

The school has sat vacant for about two decades and has long been associated with blight, fires, and resident frustration. For neighbors around Hubbell Avenue, the immediate change will be a demolition project, not a partial restoration.

Why the district says demolition comes first

In its June 7 message, DPSCD said preserving the facade no longer fits the grant schedule. The district says demolition is the first step before an athletic complex can move forward on the site, with the future project tied to the Cody feeder pattern and community use.

DPSCD also says it plans to salvage some pieces from the building, including bricks and select architectural elements, even though the facade will not be saved.

What residents and alumni are hearing

Community engagement sessions on June 10 and June 11 gave residents and alumni another chance to react. The response has been mixed, with some people focused on safety and reuse of the site and others worried about losing a familiar Detroit landmark.

For now, the key takeaway is timing: demolition is still planned for this summer, and the district says that work has to happen before the grant clock runs out on Sept. 30, 2026.

Sources

• Detroit Public Schools Community District — June 7, 2026 superintendent message and engagement-session notice
• Michigan Department of Education — 2024-2025 Section 12d(3)(a) grant award packet
• BridgeDetroit — June 1, 2026 report on Cooley High demolition