The Jesuit Experience. More than an Education.
Founded in 1877 by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), this school was first known as Detroit College and was located on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit. Originally a high school, the first college-level classes were added in 1879. The name Detroit College was changed to the University of Detroit in 1911. In 1931, the school moved to its current location here on the corner of Seven Mile Road and Cherrylawn Street. The building that was built on this 12 acre site was constructed for $766,700 and is still the foundation structure to the present campus. It wasn't until 1950 that the building received an addition; a gymnasium was built as well as an extension to the Jesuit residence.
Following the Detroit riots in the 1960's the school experienced severe financial challenges as a result of the many students who moved out to the suburbs and began attending the outlying suburban schools. While enrollment fell, tuition had to be raised sharply to offset the losses and a downward spiral took effect. One response of the school was to add an Academy (7th and 8th Grades) to the High School in 1973 (for the 8th grade) and 1974 (for the 7th grade) to help boost enrollment and create a feeder program into the High School. This time period (from the mid 1960's to the early 1980's) saw the school's enrollment drop from over 1,000 students to just over 500.
Perhaps the most significant decision in the school's history occurred during this difficult time period. In the mid 1970's, many people connected to the school were advocating a relocation to the suburbs in order to stabilize enrollment, finances and resources. The potential move was also supported in light of the fact that many institutions including several Catholic high schools were moving out to suburban locations as well. However, after much prayer and an examination of the Jesuit mission for the school, the Jesuits remained committed to providing the highest quality, college prep, Catholic and Jesuit education within the city of Detroit. In effect, the decision for the school to stay in the city of Detroit was a decision to support and to create a school that would reach out and serve the residents of the entire Detroit metropolitan area.
By 1992, through the successful fundraising efforts of President Fr. Malcolm Carron, S.J., operating deficits were erased and the first major addition since 1950 was built: a science center with labs, classrooms and departmental office space. In 1996, President Fr. Timothy Shannon, S.J. initiated an even more ambitious building project. The school launched a $25 million capital effort to renovate and construct new facilities to accommodate an increasing enrollment. The campaign "Reclaiming Our Future" created new classrooms, an art room, a band room, computer labs, a student atrium, a cafeteria, a new library and media center, a state of the art faculty/staff resource center and a significant restoration of the school chapel (titled the Chapel of the Jesuit Martyrs of North America, to whose patronage the school was dedicated at its opening in 1931). During these years, enrollment soared and virtually every aspect of the school was enhanced. With the help of individual contributions and planned giving, the school's endowment became a growing security. Perhaps most importantly, the school's Board of Directors initiated a compensation program to help attract and retain the best qualified faculty by providing more competitive salaries.
Today, U of D Jesuit High School and Academy remains one of the oldest continuously functioning secondary schools in Michigan. The school enrolls a diverse student body from Detroit and more than 50 surrounding municipalities. The high school has over 750 students and the Academy has 150 seventh and eighth graders. Our diverse student body is a testament to the Jesuit ideal of forming "Men for Others." Drawing on the over 450 years that Jesuit schools have been in existence, U of D Jesuit remains committed to providing the education of a lifetime within the city of Detroit.
On June 16, 2015, U of D Jesuit furthered commitment to the city of Detroit by formally announcing construction for a 40,000 square-foot Science and Engineering Center (STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathemetics) that will be the first of its kind in the area. You can learn more about this game-changing upgrade here: https://www.uofdjesuit.org/SEC
U of D Jesuit will challenge its students to go beyond academic excellence, to be reflective, to be committed to the service of faith and promotion of justice, and to be “Men for Others.”
Our Mission in Detroit
In 1976, after a process of consultation and discernment, U of D Jesuit decided to remain within the city of Detroit, at our current location on South Cambridge. With this decision, the school made a conscious choice committing itself to diversity (racial, religious and socio-economic) and to serving the entire metropolitan region. Our Strategic Plan recognizes, as part of our Jesuit mission, our commitment to the poor, to diversity, and to our home in Detroit.
