Overview
- District officials say trespassers tore down a large section of the perimeter fence and forced open the main entrance to the long‑vacant Thomas M. Cooley High School, and the district has released photos showing an open door.
- Detroit Public Schools Community District repaired the fence, notified police, closed the building to the public, and has put 24‑hour security in place with warnings that violators will be prosecuted if caught.
- The school is scheduled for demolition this summer under a project timeline that requires the site to be cleared by Sept. 30, 2026, and contractors are proceeding with demolition preparations.
- Planners abandoned an earlier plan to keep part of the façade and instead will salvage select historic pieces such as bricks, terra cotta medallions, the entry archways, and the tower bell for reuse or display.
- The decision to demolish reflects years of problems since Cooley closed in 2010, including thousands in blight fines, repeated security calls, at least three major fires, and growing neighborhood safety concerns tied to the vacant building and planned sports complex.