Imagine being a Crusader at Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School. This school is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a launchpad for dreams.
Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School stands tall on East Lafayette Boulevard. It is a beacon of education in Detroit. Originally, it was Eastern High School. It first opened in 1901 at Mack Avenue and East Grand Boulevard.
In 1967, Eastern High School relocated. It moved to a new building on East Lafayette and Mount Elliott. One year later, it was renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School. This honored the civil rights leader’s legacy after his assassination in April 1968. The mascot also changed from the Indians to the Crusaders. The original Eastern High building was torn down in 1982.
King High School is a magnet school. Its district includes Downtown and Midtown Detroit. It also encompasses Lafayette Park and the Martin Luther King Apartments. Even the Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects were once zoned for MLK.
A major renovation transformed Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School in 2011. This was thanks to a voter-approved federal bond. The project emphasized STEM. That means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The school gained almost 200000 square feet of new space. Plus, 47000 square feet were redeveloped.
Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School offers many enriching programs. There is Business Professionals of America. Students can join the National Honor Society. Michigan Youth in Government is another option. The school also has Unified Special Olympics and an MSU Sparty Club. TRIO Upward Bound is also available for students.
The school has several career pathways. MSAT focuses on STEM careers like engineering and medicine. CISC is for students interested in computer technology. M3 caters to students passionate about athletics. It covers sports medicine and management.
Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School boasts impressive athletic achievements. The women’s basketball program is legendary. Under Coach William Winfield Jr., they had 693 wins. They appeared in eleven state championship finals. They clinched the championship in 1985, 1990, 1991, 2003, and 2006.
In 2007, the football team made history. Coached by Jim Reynolds, they won a state championship. They were the first from the Detroit Public Secondary Schools Athletic League to achieve this.
Many notable alumni have walked these halls. Coleman Young was Detroit’s first African-American mayor. Helen Thomas was a renowned journalist. Joe Girard became a record-breaking salesman. Emanuel Steward trained boxing world champions. George Gervin was a basketball Hall of Famer. Avonte Maddox currently plays in the NFL.
From its athletic fields to its classrooms, Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School cultivates excellence. It prepares students for success. As you stand here, you are surrounded by history. You are also witnessing the future being shaped. The Crusaders of Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School are ready to make their mark on the world.