“Go Hard or Go Home” was Kettering High School’s motto. Kettering High School once stood proudly at 6101 Van Dyke. Today we remember its story.
Kettering High School opened in 1965. It addressed the need for a school for factory workers’ families in east Detroit. The school was named after Charles F. Kettering. He was the co-founder of DELCO and head of research at General Motors. Construction had begun in 1961.
Financial issues and worker strikes delayed the opening until fall 1965. Kettering High School complied with desegregation efforts from the start. Additional classrooms and a gym were built between 1967 and 1969. A pool was planned. Milliken v. Bradley delayed it until 1975.
In 1978, a $4 million performing arts space was added. It included a 1,200-person auditorium and an ROTC training area. Architect Roger Margerum designed the addition. He also added a 14-foot concrete “K” in front of the school. In 1981, the auditorium was dedicated to Leonard Sain. He was a successful Black educator in Michigan.
Detroit became a majority Black city in the 1970s and 1980s. Many white residents moved to the suburbs. This caused a loss of student enrollment. In 1970, DPS had nearly 300,000 students. By 2015, that number dropped to 47,959. Gang violence increased. In 1989, quarterback Raheem Wells was murdered.
By 2003, Kettering High School had 1,673 students. In 2004, Kettering West Wing opened. It was a special education school.
In 2009, rumors spread that Kettering High School would close. Students protested. In 2010, DPS planned to close the school. Enrollment was well below 50%. Southeastern High School was to absorb students. The administration realized the schools were controlled by rival gangs. This decision was reversed.
Repairs of $5 million became too pressing. Kettering High School closed after the 2011-2012 year. Its students went to Denby, King, Pershing, and Southeastern.
The initial idea was to turn Kettering’s lot into an urban farm. It would be called the Kettering Urban Agricultural Campus. The project fizzled out due to financial struggles.
In 2019, Dakkota Integrated Systems bought Kettering and Rose Elementary. They paid $2.6 million. They planned to build a factory. The company preserved the iconic “K”. It was moved to the corner of Van Dyke and Hendrie.
Between 2010 and 2012, Kettering High School was academically in the bottom 22% of DPS. In 2011, Kettering West Wing had a 0% graduation rate. In the mid-2010s, Kettering was recognized as a “Good School”.
Detroit Allied Health Middle College High School (DAHMCHS) opened in 2007. It was headquartered at Kettering. It offered vocational training in healthcare.
Marion Body, Billy Joe and Otis Chambers, and Stan Edwards are notable alumni. Jerome Foster, Lindsay Hairston, and Eric Money also attended Kettering. Coniel “Connie” Norman, Carl Powell, Vincent Smothers, and Frank Tate are alumni too.
Kettering High School’s story reflects Detroit’s changing landscape. It represents both pride and challenges. Though closed, its legacy lives on. The “K” stands as a reminder of the school’s history.