This is a list of schools closed by the Detroit Public Schools Community District. There have been about 200 school closures since 2000. Some have been repurposed or torn down, but most remain vacant. The exact number that sits empty is unclear. According to Detroiturbex.com, as of 2026 there are 36 empty, abandoned sites and 44 that have been demolished.
High schools School Year closed Chadsey High School 2009 Thomas M. Cooley High School 2010Crockett High School 2012 Crosman Alternative High School 2012 Detroit City Alternative High School 2012 Jared W. Finney High School 2011 Charles Kettering High School 2012 Mackenzie High School 2007Murray-Wright High School 2007 Northern High School 2008 Northeastern High School 1982Redford High School 2007 Southwestern High School 2012 Trombly Alternative High School 2002
Middle schools School Year closed Helen Newberry Joy Middle School2008 Barbour Magnet Middle School 2009 Butzel Elementary Middle 2010 Cadillac Middle School 2007 Elizabeth Cleveland Intermediate School 2006 Cerveny Middle School 2010 Condon Junior High School 1989 Farwell Middle School 2012 Foch Middle School 2004 Greusel Junior High School 2007 Guest Middle School 2010 Hally Magnet Middle School 2012 OW Holmes Elementary/Middle School 2013 Hutchins Intermediate School 2012 Jackson Intermediate School 2009 William S. Knudsen Junior High School 2015Longfellow Middle School 2008 Lyster Junior High School 2012 Mettetal Junior High School 1987Pelham Middle School 2007 Post Middle School 2007 Robinson Middle School 2012 Roosevelt Middle School 2001 Ruddiman Middle School 2008 Taft Middle School 2012Ann Arbor Trail Magnet School2026Catherine C. Blackwell Institute2026Greenfield Elementary-Middle School2026J.E. Clark Preparatory Academy2026Fredrick Douglass Academy 2007
Elementary schools
Additional Information of schools In 2025, the Paul Robeson Malcolm X Academy located at 2585 Grove St on the city's Northwest side was demolished. Formerly the P.J.M. Hally School, it was designed by Carey & Esselstyn and built by Talbot & Meier in 1928.August 5, 1928 (page 1 of 119). (1928, Aug 05). Detroit Free Press (1923-) Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/august-5-1928-page-1-119/docview/1815794884/se-2August 19, 1928 (page 63 of 116). (1928, Aug 19). Detroit Free Press (1923-) Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/august-19-1928-page-63-116/docview/1815798088/se-2 It was still in use as a school until shortly before its demolition.
In 2019, Charles Kettering High School was subject to demolition by the new owner of the site Dakkota Integrated Systems, but after it was determined demo would push construction too far back they scaled down plans to only build on the athletic field site.
In 2012, Elizabeth Cleveland Intermediate School (closed 2009) was renovated as Frontier International Academy charter school. +History of DemolitionsSchoolYear DemolishedMackenzie High School2012Northeastern High School1982Redford High School2012Tappan Intermediate2001Detroit City Alternative High School2016Chadsey High School2011Southwestern High School2023Wilson Intermediate/Phoenix Academy2024Beard Elementary School2022Cass Technical High School2011Mackenzie High School2013Redford High School2012Southwestern High School2023Robeson / Malcolm X Academy2012George Ferris School2022Highland Park Adult Education2013Ruthruff School2024Thomas Houghten Elementary 2016Gompers Elementary School2019Hanneman Elementary School2024Sherrard Elementary School2010Breitmeyer Intermediate School2010Brewer Elementary School2013Samuel Dixon Elementary2017Dexter Ferry Elementary2010Greenfield Park Elementary School2016Grayling Elementary School2013Oliver Wendell Holmes School2013Jane Cooper Elementary School2010Joy Middle School2009Lynch Elementary School2024Lillibridge Elementary School2015 Midland Elementary School2012John S. Newberry School2010Wilbur Wright School2010Fredrick Douglass Academy2015Emma Thomas School2013Birney Elementary School2016Rose School2010Marsh Elementary School2015Frederick W. Higgins Elementary 2014Longfellow School / Detroit City Alt High2016Woodward Elementary School2010James McMillan School2008
See also List of Detroit Public Schools schools
Notes
References
External links The Decline of Detroit's Neighborhood Schools at MichiganRadio.org Photo gallery of Detroit's closed schools by Yvette van der Velde