Flint, Michigan – Through a fund the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation established at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, more than $5.3 million will be awarded to support planning and development for a new Flint Community Schools high school.
The funding will support demolition of the former Flint Central High School and Whittier Classical Academy, while preserving select architectural elements of the buildings for reuse and advancing design development for the site of a new high school.
“We’re excited that FCS has crafted a vision for how to bring the former Central campus back to life,” said Ridgway White, president and CEO of the Mott Foundation.
White added: “FCS leaders and the board of education are working alongside the community to create a welcoming and vibrant space that Flint kids and families deserve. The Mott Foundation is pleased to support the project as we all work together to help Flint kids thrive.”
The Mott Foundation previously granted $750,000 to FCS to support community engagement and the first phase of design work.
“As we build the new high school, we are building more than a facility. We are building a future for Flint’s scholars. Our instructional vision is rooted in innovation, career pathways, opportunity and purpose,” said FCS Superintendent Kevelin Jones.
Jones added: “Every space, every program and every partnership will be designed to prepare our scholars not just for graduation, but for greatness, equipping them with the skills, confidence and curiosity to lead in the careers and communities of tomorrow.”
Community engagement sessions with neighborhood groups have been ongoing over the past several months, and FCS leaders hope to continue conversations throughout the rest of the year.
Joyce Ellis-McNeal, FCS Board of Education president stated: “Our community is the co-creator of this new high school. When educators, families, students, residents and local partners shape the vision together, the school truly becomes a space that belongs to everyone. Strong, intentional partnerships — with local businesses, colleges, nonprofits and cultural institutions — expand our learning ecosystem far beyond the classroom.”
Demolition of the two schools, located on Crapo Street next to the Flint Cultural Center, is scheduled for early next year. Demolition and design work are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
