Our Story
1877
Founded by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) as a high school at the invitation of Bishop Caspar Henry Borgess, the second Roman Catholic bishop of Detroit. It was first named Detroit College and was located on Jefferson Avenue and St. Antoine Street in Detroit. In June of that year four Jesuit Priests, J.B. Miege, Eugene Brady, James Walshe and Edward Higgins were sent from the Provincial headquarters in St. Louis to open the school on September 3, with 50 students, in what is the current high school.
1879
The first college-level classes were added.
1890
The school moved to a new, larger facility, Dowling Hall, to accommodate the growing student population.
1911
The name Detroit College was officially changed to the University of Detroit.
1930
Construction on a new 3 1/2 story school building begins in December to accommodate 600-700 students on what is now the current site of the school.
1931
The school moved to its current location on South Cambridge Avenue and 7 Mile Road in Detroit in August. The slight move north in the city afforded the school the opportunity to be more accessible to the rapidly expanding area.
1948
On August 13, University of Detroit High School becomes a corporation and gains independence from the college.
1950
The school's current gymnasium was opened and was the largest high school gym of the time. It provided more opportunities to reimagine spaces to allow for more learning areas, and the Jesuit residence was expanded to accommodate the increase number of Jesuits living on campus.
1973-1974
The Academy (7th and 8th grades) was established to create a feeder system for the high school. Starting in 1973, the 8th grade was added, followed by the 7th grade in 1974. This helped boost enrollment which provided financial stability.
Mid-1970s
Many people connected to the school advocated for relocating to the suburbs to stabilize enrollment, finances, and resources. The proposed move was bolstered by the trend of several Catholic high schools relocating from Detroit to suburban areas. However, after much prayer and a deep examination of the Jesuit mission, the Jesuits chose to reaffirm their commitment to providing a high-quality, college-preparatory, Catholic, and Jesuit education within the City of Detroit.
1983
School's name is amended at the behest of then president, Fr. Malcom Carron, S.J. in August, to include Jesuit, to legally be called University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy.
1996
The school launched a $25 million capital campaign, 'Reclaiming Our Future,' to renovate and construct facilities that would support growing enrollment. This campaign resulted in 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 and staff resource center, and a significant restoration of the school chapel, the Chapel of the Jesuit Martyrs of North America, to whose patronage the school was dedicated upon its opening in 1931.
2016
During the fall, the school opened a state-of-the-art $16 million Science and Engineering Center, marking the most significant recent investment in science and technology among Michigan high schools. This four-level, 40,000-square-foot addition to campus doubles the school’s space for biology, chemistry, and physics programs, while also adding dedicated labs for engineering and research. The expansion also provides added workspace for the eco-car and award-winning robotics programs.
2019 - 2021
U of D Jesuit completed the purchase and renovation of the vacant Johnson Recreation Center on Chippewa Avenue. The $7.5 million transformation of this 30,000-square-foot facility includes a gym, locker rooms, indoor fields, and community meeting spaces. Known as the PARC, the center features three newly resurfaced outdoor soccer and lacrosse fields across 10.5 acres, along with indoor field space. The facility also serves the neighborhood year-round, hosting association meetings and youth activities.
Trowbridge Mansion - First home of The High in 1877
Dowling Hall - Second home of The High in 1890
"the handsomest and most substantial edifice for educational purposes in the state." - The Detroit News August 24, 1890
A building is constructed in 1930 and The High moves to South Cambridge / 7 Mile Rd. in Detroit at the start of the 1931-32 school year
The move to the northern Detroit would be fruitful as the school anchors the burgeoning Bagley community to serve more boys
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U of D Jesuit High School and Academy today
Johnson Recreation Center, also known as PARC (Performance, Athletics, Recreation, Community Campus) is open year-round for indoor and outdoor athletic use, study halls and community space for meetings or continued learning.
