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Detroit Public Schools Community District Opens Southeastern High School CTE Annex, First Completed Project Under $700 Million Plan

October 10, 2025

Detroit Public Schools Community District has inaugurated the Southeastern High School Career Technical Education Annex, an 11,000-square-foot facility equipped with professional-grade welding and CNC labs. This $16 million project represents the first completed new construction under the district's $700 million Facilities Master Plan, strategically located at a historic East Side high school built in 1917. Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti emphasized that this intentional investment in a neighborhood school is crucial for rebuilding Detroit communities, not just downtown development.

Who is affected

  • Students at Southeastern High School
  • Families and residents of Detroit's East Side neighborhoods
  • The broader Detroit community, particularly those interested in manufacturing careers
  • Teachers and staff at Southeastern High School
  • Future employers seeking skilled workers in welding and advanced manufacturing

What action is being taken

  • Opening the 11,000-square-foot Career Technical Education Annex at Southeastern High School
  • Providing professional-grade welding and CNC labs with industry-standard equipment
  • Implementing the $700 million Facilities Master Plan to modernize Detroit's public schools
  • Partnering with Stellantis to align curriculum with industry needs
  • Expanding career-based learning opportunities within neighborhood schools

Why it matters

  • Addresses decades of disinvestment in Detroit's East Side neighborhoods and schools
  • Reduces barriers for students by eliminating travel to separate facilities for vocational training
  • Connects education directly to Detroit's manufacturing job market and economic heritage
  • Demonstrates a commitment to rebuilding trust with communities that experienced emergency management and school closures
  • Contributes to enrollment growth at Southeastern (from 150 students in 2017 to 650 today)
  • Improves student engagement through relevant, career-focused education
  • Represents equitable distribution of educational resources beyond downtown and midtown areas

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article, although it mentions that similar facility upgrades will follow across Detroit as part of the ongoing Facilities Master Plan.

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle

Detroit Public Schools Community District Opens Southeastern High School CTE Annex, First Completed Project Under $700 Million Plan