Holy Redeemer High School - Southwest Detroit

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Holy Redeemer grade school and high school was a Roman Catholic school in southwest Detroit which closed in 2005.

The school was founded in 1882 by the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) sisters and the Redemptorist Fathers (CSsR). Holy Redeemer is a Catholic Parish and the high school until it closed was a member of the Archdiocese of Detroit Catholic League for athletics. Located in Southwest Detroit, near the Ambassador Bridge to Canada, Holy Redeemer High School was responsible for educating thousands of students since its founding. Holy Redeemer prided itself in educating students regardless of faith or ethnic background - as far as Holy Redeemer was concerned - there was no such thing as a "bad kid" - only kids seeking the guidance and love that a school like Holy Redeemer excelled in.

At its height of enrollment in 1972, Holy Redeemer's student population number was almost 1,000. The high school closed in 2004 with an enrollment of approximately 180 students. At the time of the school's closing the population was approximately 70% Latino, 20% African-American and 10% Caucasian. The student population was approximately 80% Catholic and the number of students going on to college was approximately 90% of the graduating class. Prior to closing, the Redemptorist Fathers who had founded Holy Redeemer parish and school left the parish on/around 2000 and the IHM religious sisters closed their expansive 4-storey convent a few years after- due to declining numbers of religious members. The Basilian fathers who administered Holy Redeemer High School for approximately five years until the time of its closing were unable to provide the Diocese of Detroit with a commitment to staff the school for an additional five years as requested by the Diocese to the principal in place at the time of the school's closure: Fr. Joe Redican. What role this played in the eventual decision of the Diocese to close Holy Redeemer High School, as opposed to leaving Redeemer open as the last remaining Diocese High School will never be known. Even if the Basilian fathers had been able to commit to an additional five years as requested - the Diocese may likely have still closed Redeemer in that the Diocese closed every single Diocese supported school in the City of Detroit and the immediate adjacent surrounding suburbs. The same year Holy Redeemer High School closed, the Basilian Fathers opened a new multi-million dollar Catholic Central High School in an affluent suburb of Detroit - Novi, Michigan. The timing of the opening was not related to Holy Redeemer's closure in that the planning and building of the new Catholic Central High School began several years prior to the Archdiocese of Detroit's decision to close Redeemer and all the other Detroit based Catholic schools.

The closing of the school was against the wishes of the students, school administration, faculty and staff and was done so at the mandate of the Archdiocese of Detroit which also closed every other Diocese sponsored high school in Detroit. Other schools closed included: DePorres, St. Catherine Drexel, Notre Dame, St. Clement, East Catholic, Dominican and a number of grade schools. The Diocese of Detroit which once maintained over 100 high schools throughout the Metro Detroit Region now claims fewer than 15 schools remaining. The majority of displaced student enrolled at St. Frances Cabrini High School in Allen Park, with other students primarily enrolling in Cesar Chavez Academy and Western High School. Many people affiliated with Holy Redeemer High School and Southwest Detroit continue to regard the closure of Holy Redeemer High School with regret and anger.

Holy Redeemer was a founding member of the Detroit Catholic Athletic League and was once considered a premiere school of the Diocese. The colors of Holy Redeemer High School were purple and gold and the mascot was the lion. The address of the High School was 5668 Baker, Detroit, MI 48209 and the campus continues to be located at the corner of Junction and Vernor. A portion of the high school building is currently leased to the group "Covenant House" and is utilized to educate "at risk" children who have prior academic problems, family problems. etc. Thus the building continues to perform its purpose in providing opportunities to those who need it the most. The older portion of the high school - attached to the gym - has been physically walled off from the rest of the school and is vacant. Holy Redeemer grade school and high school was founded in 1882 by the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) sisters and the Redemptorist Fathers (CSsR).

Holy Redeemer Grade School remains open and continues to carry on the tradition of the IHM sisters, Redemptorist fathers and dedicated staff.

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