Loyola High School is a joint institution supported by the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Jesuits of the USA Midwest Province. Drawing from over 450 years of Jesuit educational tradition, Loyola offers a rich foundation in values, leadership and academic excellence.

At Loyola, our educational philosophy is deeply humanistic, focused on nurturing the mind, heart, body and spirit. We are committed to developing young men who are not only prepared for the next phase of their educational journey, whether at a college, university or skilled trades program, but also dedicated to serving their communities as “Men for Others. Men for Detroit.”

In the early 1990s, the Detroit Board of Education proposed opening a series of all-male academies to address the high dropout rates among young men in the city. However, the state courts ruled against the initiative, declaring it unconstitutional under Michigan law.

In response, Detroit Archbishop Adam Maida and Jesuit Provincial Fr. Joseph Daoust, SJ, joined forces to create a high school aimed at supporting an underserved and marginalized male population in Detroit and its surrounding communities. In August 1993, Loyola Academy (later renamed Loyola High School) opened its doors to 43 young men in the basement wing of the former St. Francis Home for Boys, located at Fenkell and Linwood. Fr. Malcolm Carron, SJ, a respected educator and community leader, served as the first president of this new school.

Just one year later, the school moved two miles west to its new location on Fenkell, where it undertook the extensive renovation of the abandoned St. Francis de Sales school building. While restoring the structure was a major achievement, the real transformation occurred within, where a new generation of young men began to thrive.

Loyola added one grade each year, reaching full enrollment in the 1996-97 school year. On June 1, 1997, Loyola proudly graduated its first senior class in a heartfelt ceremony, marking a pivotal moment in the lives of these young men, many of whom had never imagined attending college and might have otherwise dropped out before earning their diplomas. 

In 2003, the school expanded its curriculum with the introduction of the Loyola Work Experience Program (LWEP). This program allows students to spend one day per week gaining valuable, real-world work experience with corporate partners. Through LWEP, Loyola students gain job experience, develop marketable skills, build professional networks, refine their work ethic and better understand the expectations of future employers.

Loyola has built a strong legacy of success. Through thoughtful planning and continuous improvement, we are committed to ensuring that our future is even brighter than our past. We invite you to discover how Loyola is transforming the lives of young men, with each student sharing in that story every day.