Famous people's places / Detroit
Central High School
Detroit's oldest public high school, founded in 1858, once housed in the former Michigan State Capitol building; alumnus Carl Levin graduated in 1952.
01 / The story of this place
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Detroit's first public high school opened on Miami Avenue in 1858; enrollment growth moved it in 1863 into the former Michigan State Capitol building, where it was known as Capitol High School until it was renamed Central in 1896. The school began offering college-level courses in 1913, a program that eventually grew into Wayne State University. In 1925 Central moved into its current building at 2425 Tuxedo Street, where it still operates as the oldest continuously running public high school in Detroit and one of the oldest in the country. U.S. Senator Carl Levin, who graduated in 1952 like his brother Sander, is among its notable alumni.
- Detroit's oldest public high school, founded in 1858
- Once housed in the former Michigan State Capitol building
- Its early college courses grew into Wayne State University
- Moved to its current Tuxedo Street building in 1925
- Alumnus Carl Levin graduated in 1952
Famous Detroiters
Famous people tied to this place 15
Lexicon entries for the people who lived, worked, performed or liked to spend time here.
- Melvin Calvin 1911–1997 · biochemist
Studied here
Detroit's oldest public high school; Calvin graduated in 1928, two years after the school moved into its present building on Tuxedo Street.
- Carl Levin 1934–2021 · politician, lawyer
Studied here
Detroit's oldest public high school, from which he graduated in 1952 like his brother Sander.
- Ralph Craig 1889–1972 · track and field athlete, sprinter
Studied here
Where he began running track as a hurdler before moving on to the University of Michigan.
- Philip Levine 1928–2015 · poet, essayist, professor
Studied here
Detroit's oldest public high school, in its Tuxedo Street building since 1926; Levine graduated here in 1946.
- James Lipton 1926–2020 · television host, writer, actor, educator
Studied here
He graduated from Central High before a year at Wayne State.
- Richard Degener 1912–1995 · diver
Studied here
Where he first established himself as a diving champion.
- Eli Broad 1933–2021 · homebuilder, financier, philanthropist
Studied here
He graduated from Detroit's oldest public high school in 1951.
- Sander Levin born 1931 · politician, lawyer
Studied here
Detroit's oldest public high school, which both Levin brothers attended.
- Antonio Gates born 1980 · American football tight end
Studied here
Detroit's oldest public high school (at this address since 1926), where he starred in football and basketball.
- Scherrie Payne born 1944 · singer
Studied here
She graduated from this high school in 1961.
- Jerome Horwitz 1919–2012 · chemist, cancer researcher
Studied here
He graduated from Detroit's oldest public high school in 1937.
- Al Young 1939–2021 · poet, novelist, essayist
Studied here
He graduated from Central High in 1957.
- JoAnn Watson 1951–2023 · activist, radio host, pastor, city councilwoman
Studied here
She graduated from Detroit's oldest public high school in 1968.
- Raymond Zussman 1917–1944 · soldier, Medal of Honor recipient
Studied here
Detroit high school where Zussman graduated.
- Nolan Strong 1934–1977 · singer
Studied here
The Diablos were formed here around 1950.
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Sources & fact check · Checked: 2026-09-25
An independently written bilingual guide. This collection is not an attendance-based ranking.
03 / Events
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