October 25, 2024

DETROIT - Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Pershing High School building on Friday, October 25, 2024, at the future site of the new building. This event marks the first high school new build under DPSCD’s comprehensive 20-year Facilities Master Plan (FMP) and is one of five new schools commissioned under the leadership of the locally elected board and Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti.

“As DPSCD’s first appointed Superintendent I have had many memorable and satisfying moments working persistently to rebuild the District. This groundbreaking ceremony is certainly one of my most treasured. In many ways this new school building defines literally and symbolically the rebuilding of a District that too many have ignored or never thought was possible. Pershing High School defines the best of traditional public education and its greatest challenges. This is why building a new school here was so important to the reform,” said DPSCD Superintendent, Dr. Nikolai Vitti.

“This investment communicates to ALL Detroiters and to the world that the children in 48234 deserve the same school facilities, and even a better one, than those who grow up in affluent zip codes. This is a recipient that communicated that I, as Superintendent, and we, as a District would make things better for students and the community.”

“As a District, we are unapologetic in saying ALL of our children in Detroit deserve a building like the new one that will be built here!”

As the first of the five new builds, Pershing High School stands as a symbol of the right reforms for public education, growth, and investment in the future of Detroit’s youth. The project not only amplifies the District’s commitment to providing world-class learning environments but also highlights a transformative era in DPSCD’s history. The new facility will feature cutting-edge academic spaces, state-of-the-art science and technology labs, and modern athletic facilities—all designed to foster an enriching, forward-looking educational experience.

The existing Pershing High School, originally built in 1929, has served the community for nearly a century. With the building’s Facility Condition Index (FCI) score at 51, the school’s infrastructure has been deemed inadequate for 21st-century educational needs. Restoring the existing structure would cost approximately $40 million as of 2022, and due to market conditions, this figure has likely escalated since then. Construction on the new $77 million building will begin in early 2025, with completion expected by 2027, and the athletic complex slated to open in the spring of 2029.

“This is an investment in generations of families and children. It builds and continues the great legacy of Pershing High School that will now live on for another 100 years! This new school building will serve as a model, as will the new Cody High School, of what a neighborhood high school should look like. It will remind everyone that traditional public education is not going away and is and will only become stronger with the right leadership and that we strengthen communities and continue to rebuild this great city through neighborhood schools,” said Dr. Vitti.

The FMP, which was developed through extensive community engagement, seeks to address decades of underinvestment in school infrastructure by providing students with safe, modern, and high-quality learning environments. The plan includes five new school builds. The five new builds under the FMP include Pershing High School, Cody High School, Southeastern High School Annex, Paul Robeson Malcolm X Academy, and Phoenix Academy.

The new Pershing High School building will feature modern classrooms, advanced science and technology labs and cutting-edge athletic facilities. Additionally, the design prioritizes access to natural light, collaborative learning spaces, and enhanced security features, providing students with an environment that fosters academic success and school pride.

“As a locally elected Board, we are proud to have spearheaded this work under the leadership of Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. When the Board took office, we shared the vision with Dr. Vitti when he first came to Detroit to focus on doing what is right for children. This groundbreaking serves as an example of what it looks like to put students first!” said DPSCD Board President Angelique Peterson-Mayberry.

For more information about the Pershing High School project and DPSCD’s Facility Master Plan, visit https://www.detroitk12.org/fmp.