View source for Cass Technical High School

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox school
| name                   = Cass Technical High School
| image                  = Cass Technical High School 2010.jpg
| alt                    = 
| caption                = The school in 2010
| motto                  = Cass Tech #1, Second To None
| motto_translation      = 
| address                = 2501 Second Avenue
| city                   = [[Detroit]]
| state                  = Michigan
| zipcode                = 48201
| country                = United States
| coordinates            = {{Coord|42|20|19.815|N|83|3|37.379|W|region:US-MI_type:edu|display=inline,title}}
| other_name             = Cass Tech
| former_name            = <!-- or | former_names = -->
| type                   = [[State school|Public]] [[Magnet school|magnet]] [[Secondary school|high school]]
| religious_affiliation  = 
| established            = {{Start date|1907}}
| founder                = <!-- or | founders = -->
| closed                 = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| district               = [[Detroit Public Schools Community District]]
| us_nces_school_id      = {{NCES School ID|260110304669|school_name=Cass Technical High School|access_date=December 10, 2024|ref_name=NCES}}
| principal              = Lisa Phillips
| teaching_staff         = 99.20 {{FTE}}<ref name="NCES" />
| grades                 = 9–12
| enrollment             = 2,485 (2023–2024)<ref name="NCES" />
| ratio                  = 25.05<ref name="NCES" />
| gender                 = [[Co-educational]]
| campus_size            = 
| campus_type            = [[Urban area|Urban]]
| colors                 = Forest green and white<br>{{Color box|#0c6634}}{{Color box|White}}<ref name="MHSAA">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mhsaa.com/Schools/casstech|title = MHSAA &gt; Schools}}</ref>
| athletics_conference   = [[Michigan High School Athletic Association]] (MHSAA)
| mascot                 = 
| nickname               = Technicians<ref name="MHSAA" />
| accreditation          = <!-- or | accreditations = -->
| publication            = 
| newspaper              = CT Visionary
| yearbook               = 
| affiliation            = <!-- or | affiliations = -->
| website                = {{URL|www.detroitk12.org/casstech}}
| footnotes              = 
}}

'''Lewis Cass Technical High School'''<!--Full name from https://web.archive.org/web/20030401231602/http://schools.detroit.k12.mi.us/jsp/index.jsp?Cass --> (simply referred to as '''Cass Tech''') is a four-year [[State school|public]] [[Magnet school|magnet]] [[Secondary school|high school]] in [[Midtown Detroit]], Michigan, United States.<ref name="midloc">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100221012724/http://www.detroitmidtown.com/05/develop.php?msub=5 Midtown location]}} from the University Cultural Center Association, retrieved June 9, 1001</ref> It was established in 1907 and is part of the [[Detroit Public Schools Community District]]. It is named after [[Lewis Cass]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Whitmer strips name of slave owner Lewis Cass from state office building|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2020/06/30/lewis-cass-building-lansing-whitmer/3284577001/|access-date=2020-07-10|website=Detroit Free Press|language=en}}</ref>

Until 1977, Cass was Detroit's only magnet school and the only non-neighborhood enrollment school in Detroit. It remains one of few magnet schools in Detroit. Entrance is based on test scores and [[middle school]] grades. Students are required to choose a curriculum path—roughly equivalent to a college "[[Academic major|major]]" —in the ninth grade. Areas of study include among others arts and communication, business management and marketing, engineering and manufacturing, [[human services]], and science and arts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://casstech.schools.detroitk12.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Cass-Tech-School-Profile-2014_2015_.REVISED_10-09-2014.pdf |title=Lewis Cass Technical High School |publisher=Detroit Public Schools |date=October 2014 }}</ref>

== History ==

The school was founded in 1907 on the third floor of Cass Union School on Grand Union Avenue, subsequently moving to its own wing. After that school was mostly destroyed by a fire, a building for Cass Tech was built on the site and opened in October 1912, but was soon overcrowded. A new building nearby on Second Avenue was designed in [[Collegiate Gothic]] style by [[Malcolmson and Higginbotham]] with [[Albert Kahn (architect)|Albert Kahn]] as construction architect; construction began in 1916,<ref name=HistoricD>{{cite web |author=Dan Austin |url=http://historicdetroit.org/building/cass-tech-high-school-old/ |title=Cass Tech High School (old) |publisher=Historic Detroit |access-date=December 2, 2021}}</ref> the cornerstone was laid in 1917,<ref name=Urbex/> and after delays caused by World War I austerity measures, the building opened in September 1922. It had a capacity of 3,600 students and was connected to the [[High School of Commerce (Detroit)|High School of Commerce]], which opened earlier the same year in Cass Tech's former building, by Victory Memorial Arch, a pedestrian bridge over Main Street that was a memorial to students killed in the war.<ref name=HistoricD/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://historicdetroit.org/buildings/high-school-of-commerce |title=High School of Commerce |publisher=Historic Detroit |date=May 22, 2020 |access-date=December 2, 2021 }}</ref><ref>[http://detroiturbex.com/content/schools/cass/architecture/ 3D interactive diagram of 1922 building] at detroiturbex.com.</ref> By 1942 the school had more than 4,500 students and was the largest in Michigan.<ref name=HistoricD/> In 1985, an addition on the south side was opened, designed by Albert Kahn & Associates, which included performing arts facilities, a new pool, and a student cafeteria, and a wing of the building was remodeled for computer and business classes.<ref name=HistoricD/><ref name=Urbex>{{cite web |url=http://detroiturbex.com/content/schools/cass/current/index.html |title=Cass Technical High School After Closing |website=Detroit Urbex |access-date=December 2, 2021 |type=exterior and interior images |date=2010 }}</ref> Departments in the 1922 building were grouped by floor; facilities included a foundry and machine shops that were used for training by [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] outside school hours, and the auditorium was used as a practice hall by the [[Detroit Symphony Orchestra]].<ref name=Urbex/> The 1922 building was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in March 2011.<ref name="list"/><ref name=NRHP/>

In 2008, due to declining enrollment, teacher staffing was reduced and some classes that were not very popular with students were removed.<ref>{{cite news |author=Orlandar Brand-Williams |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News%2C+The+%28MI%29&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=12368967B4914298&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Cass Tech will lose some less popular classes |newspaper=[[The Detroit News]] |date=September 23, 2008 |access-date=November 3, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109143340/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DTNB&s_site=detnews&f_site=detnews&f_sitename=Detroit+News%2C+The+%28MI%29&p_multi=DTNB&p_theme=gannett&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=12368967B4914298&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | archive-date=January 9, 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Academics ==

{{Infobox High school student assessments in Michigan
| year = 2021-22
| M-STEP Advanced = 6.5 / 3.0
| M-STEP Proficient = 19.8 / 25.8
| M-STEP PR Proficient = 18.6 / 59.1
| M-STEP Not Proficient = 55.0 / 12.1
| PSAT Total = 
| SAT Total = 952.0
| SAT Total change = -30.4
| ref = <ref name="misd">{{cite web |url=https://www.mischooldata.org/annual-education-report-1/ |title=MI School Data Annual Education Report|publisher=Mi School Data|access-date=2023-01-10}}</ref>
| change ref = <ref name="misd" />
}}

Cass offers over twenty advanced placement courses including language composition, history, chemistry, calculus, and physics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.detroitk12.org/domain/6413 |title=About Us |website=Cass Technical High School |access-date=December 2, 2021 }}</ref> Cass Tech students' strong academic performances draw recruiters from across the country, including Ivy League representatives eager to attract the top minority applicants.<ref>{{cite news |author=Christine Beamer |url=http://www.michigandaily.com/content/u-catches-cass-tech-talent |title='U' catches Cass Tech talent |newspaper=The Michigan Daily |date=2006-04-04 |access-date=2021-12-02 |publisher=University of Michigan }}</ref> However, in 2019, Cass Tech was not among the 78 Michigan high schools with the highest average SAT scores.<ref>{{cite news |author=Julie Mack |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/g66l-2019/09/9d256d1d4b310/the-78-michigan-public-high-schools-with-best-results-on-2019-sat.html |title=The 78 Michigan public high schools with best results on 2019 SAT |website=MLive |publisher=Advance Local Media LLC |orig-year=September 3, 2019 |date=September 19, 2019 |access-date=December 2, 2021}}</ref> In 2021, ''U.S. News'' ranked Cass Tech 84th among Michigan high schools, and reported a 62.9% percentile score on the SAT.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/michigan/districts/detroit-public-schools-community-district/cass-technical-high-school-9864 |title=Cass Technical High School |access-date=December 2, 2021 |work=U.S. News Education |publisher=U.S. News}}</ref>

=== Awards ===
In 1984, Cass Tech was honored by the [[U.S. Department of Education]] among 262 schools that should "shine as inspirational model for others," a list that included public and private schools.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qxEvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t9wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5525,9444839&dq=cass-technical&hl=en 15 Michigan Schools are given honor], Ludington Daily News – August 21, 1984</ref>

In 2006, Cass represented DPS at the National Academic Games Olympics and won the Team Sweepstakes award.{{Citation needed|date=December 2012}}

== Music ==

=== Harp and vocal ===
The school's Harp program was established in 1925.<ref>{{cite book |author=Laurie Palazzolo |title=Horn man: the Polish-American musician in twentieth-century Detroit |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3-k6lSK3HJUC&pg=PA257 |access-date=January 8, 2011 |date=October 2003 |publisher=Wayne State University Press |isbn=978-0-8143-3193-4 |pages=257–}}</ref>

=== Bands ===
There are beginner, intermediate, advanced and jazz band classes, as well as a marching band. The CTMB (marching band), under the direction of Sharon Allen, has performed for [[Patti LaBelle]], Sinbad, and [[Jay-Z]] as well as various college and university homecomings.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}} The marching band was also a part of the 2007 [[Orange Bowl]] in [[Miami]], Florida, but was not televised. In 2008, the band performed at [[Texas Southern University]].{{citation needed|date=December 2012}} In 2010, the CTMB participated in Norfolk State University's Homecoming and won first place in the McDonald's Battle of the Bands.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}} The CTMB went to the 2013 inauguration for President Barack Obama.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130116/SCHOOLS/301160342 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130220032539/http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130116/SCHOOLS/301160342 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-20 |title=Drum roll: Cass Tech marchers raise enough money to play D.C. |access-date=2013-12-26 }}</ref>

The concert band program rose to prominence under the direction of [[Harry Begian]], who led the Cass Tech bands from 1947 through 1964. Under his baton, the concert band performed twice at the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic, and played literature at a level far beyond that normally performed by a public high school band{{according to whom|date=April 2023}}, including the [[Symphony in B-flat for Band (Hindemith)|Symphony in B-flat]] by [[Paul Hindemith]] and La Fiesta Mexicana by [[H. Owen Reed]].{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

== Athletics ==

=== Football ===
[[File:Cthelmet212.png|thumb|right|Cass Tech helmet.]]
The '''Cass Tech Technicians''' football team (also referred to as the Technicians) is a high school football program in Division 1 Public School League, representing Cass Technical High School.

Cass Tech won the 2011, 2012, 2016,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mhsaa.com/Sports/Football/Yearly-Champions |title=Football Yearly Champions 1975-2021 |publisher=Michigan High School Athletic Association |access-date=December 2, 2021 |archive-date=June 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626175741/http://www.mhsaa.com/sports/football/yearlychampions.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> and 2024 MHSAA Division I state championships.<ref>{{cite web |title=MHSAA 2024 Football Playoff Scoreboard |url=https://www.mhsaa.com/sites/default/files/Football-11/2024/2024-playoff-scoreboard.txt |publisher=Michigan High School Athletic Association |access-date=1 December 2024}}</ref>

=== Basketball ===
* 1956 Boys Class A State Champions<ref>http://michigan-football.com/bb/casstech.html|{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Cass Tech Win Loss</ref>
* 1975 Boys Class A State Champions<ref>https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=taMxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XKwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=894,4865755&dq=cass+tech+football&hl=en| Cass Tech finish #1</ref>
* 2023 Boys Division 1 State Champions

=== Track and field ===
Cass Tech's track and field history goes back to 1926 when [[Eddie Tolan]] and his teammate Loving won the interscholastic track meet at [[Northwestern University]].<ref>https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QCNAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=i1gMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1499,5915116&dq=cass-technical&hl=en| Scholastic Meet at Northwestern</ref>  Tolan came to be known as the "Midnight Express". He set world records in the 100-yard dash and 100 meters event and Olympic records in the 100 meters and 200 meters events.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} He was the first African-American to receive the title of the "world's fastest human" after winning gold medals in the 100 and 200 meters events at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In March 1935, Tolan won the 75, 100 and 220-yard events at the World Professional Sprint Championships in Melbourne, Australia to become the first man to win both the amateur and professional world sprint championships. In his full career as a sprinter, Tolan won 300 races and lost only 7.<ref>[http://www.usatf.org/halloffame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=171 Eddie Tolan], usatf.org</ref>

==== [[Northwestern University|Northwestern]] Interscholastic Track Meet ====
* March 1926: 1st Place – National Champions<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QCNAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=i1gMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1499,5915116&dq=cass-technical&hl=en Scholastic Meet At Northwestern], Youngstown Vindicator – February 16, 1927</ref>
* March 1927: 3rd Place<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KL8aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KkoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6458,158021&dq=cass-technical&hl=en Detroit School Winner], The Pittsburgh Press – June 5, 1927</ref>
* March 1928: 3rd Place<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cltQAAAAIBAJ&pg=2471,4090969&dq=cass+tech+track&hl=en |title=Detroit Preps Star in Meet |date=1928-03-25 |access-date=2013-12-26}}</ref>

== Campus ==
=== Original building ===
{{Infobox NRHP
| name          = Lewis Cass Technical High School<br /><small>(former Cass campus)</small>
| nrhp_type     = 
| image         = CassTechOld.jpg
| alt           = 
| caption       = 1922 building, 2007
| locmapin      = Michigan#USA
| map_label     =
| map_alt       = 
| map_caption   = 
| coordinates   = {{Coord|42|20|15|N|83|3|36|W|region:US-MI_type:edu|display=inline}}
| location      = 2421 Second Avenue, [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], United States
| built         = 1922
| architect     = [[Malcolmson and Higginbotham]], [[Albert Kahn (architect)|Albert Kahn]]
| architecture  = 
| demolished    = July 2011
| delisted      = December 2, 2024<ref>{{cite web | title = Weekly List of Actions taken on Properties: 11/22/2024 through 12/29/2024 | publisher = National Park Service | url = https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/weekly-list-2024-11-29.htm | accessdate = December 3, 2024}}</ref>
| mpsub         = Public Schools of Detroit MPS
| added         = March 29, 2011
| designated_nrhp_type = 
| refnum        = 10000644<ref name="list">{{cite web |title=WEEKLY LIST OF ACTIONS TAKEN ON PROPERTIES: March 28, 2011 THROUGH April 1, 2011 |publisher=National Park Service |url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/weekly-list-2011-national-register-of-historic-places.pdf |access-date=April 24, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-date=May 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513111038/http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/20110408.htm }}</ref><ref name=NRHP>{{cite web |url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/25338649 |title=Michigan MPS Cass, Lewis, Technical High School |publisher=National Archives |type=National Register of Historic Places digitized file |date=March 29, 2011 |access-date=December 2, 2021 }}</ref>
}}

Daphnee Denis of ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' stated that the previous building had "classic and imposing architecture" that "made high-schoolers feel like they belonged to something great."<ref name=DenisLifeDeath>{{cite magazine|last=Denis|first=Daphnee|url=https://slate.com/culture/2013/03/detroit-urbex-using-photomontage-to-compare-the-history-of-cass-tech-high-school-photos.html|title=The Life and Death of an Iconic Detroit High School|magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|date=2013-03-04|access-date=2025-06-21}}</ref> She cited the words of [[Jack White]],<ref name=DenisLifeDeath/> who stated: "Going to school there at age 14 was like all of sudden you were going to [[Harvard University|Harvard]] or something. It seemed like you were going to college."<ref>{{cite news|last=McCarus|first=Chris|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/01/13/132878972/in-detroit-a-fight-over-iconic-schools-future|title=In Detroit, A Fight Over Iconic School's Future|publisher=[[National Public Radio]]|date=2011-01-13|access-date=2025-06-21}}</ref>

The former building, including the extension, was left vacant (with classroom fittings and supplies inside).<ref name=Urbex/> The alumni association announced plans in April 2007 to renovate it as a multi-use center including arts spaces, retail, and residences,<ref name=HistoricD/> but in July 2007 a fire damaged the 1922 section.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Joe Rossiter |author2=Zachary Gorchow |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/42457438/2007-july-fire-at-old-cass-tech/ |title=Old Cass Tech catches fire: Blaze can't douse hopes of those who want to save it |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |date=July 31, 2007 |page=15 |via=newspapers.com |access-date=December 2, 2021 }}</ref> The school district listed the building for demolition later that year. Demolition began in December 2010 and was completed in August 2011.<ref name=HistoricD/><ref>[http://detroiturbex.com/content/schools/cass/demo/index.html Photos of demolition] at detroiturbex.com.</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Daphnee Denis |url=https://slate.com/culture/2013/03/detroit-urbex-using-photomontage-to-compare-the-history-of-cass-tech-high-school-photos.html |title=The Life and Death of an Iconic Detroit High School |website=Slate |type=with superimposed photos from Detroit Urbex |date=March 4, 2013 |access-date=December 2, 2021 }}</ref> At the time of demolition, the school building was approximately {{convert|830000|sqft|m2}} and weighed more than {{convert|100000|ST|MT}}. Over 90% of the material in the building was recycled for other uses or as backfill.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://homrich.com/project/cass-tech-high-school-detroit-mi/ |title=Cass Tech High School – Detroit, MI: Total demolition/abatement |website=Homrich Demolition |date=June 8, 2020 |access-date=December 2, 2021 }}</ref>

The indie rock band [[Mattiel]]'s 2017 song, "Cass Tech", laments the building's 2011 demolition.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://genius.com/Mattiel-cass-tech-lyrics | title=Mattiel – Cass Tech }}</ref>

=== New building ===
A new campus opened in May 2005 in an adjacent lot on Grand River Avenue to the north of the original building.<ref name=HistoricD/><ref name=Urbex/>

== Students ==

=== Demographics ===
{{As of|2022}}, approximately 2,400 students attended Cass Technical High School: 583 students in the ninth grade, 637 students in the tenth grade, 606 in the eleventh grade, and 575 in the twelfth grade.<ref name="NCES" />

In 2022 MJ Galbraith of [[Model D Media]] stated that "a sizable" group of students of [[Bengali American|Bengali heritage]] attend Cass Tech.<ref>{{cite web|last=Galbraith|first=MJ|url=https://www.modeldmedia.com/features/Banglatown-Street-View-22.aspx|title=“Everyone knows about Banglatown”: Why this dynamic Detroit-Hamtramck community continues to grow|publisher=[[Model D Media]]|date=2022-08-16|access-date=2024-10-11}}</ref>

=== Ethnicity distribution ===
Of the students attending Cass Technical High School in 2021–22, 1,832 (76.2%) of them are Black, 277 (11.5%) are Hispanic, 223 (9.3%) are Asian, 57 (2.4%) are White, 6 (0.2%) are American Indian or Alaska Native, and 9 (0.4%) are multi-racial. 65.0% of the students are female.<ref name="NCES" />

== Notable alumni ==

=== Art, architecture and design ===
{{Columns-list|colwidth=25em|
* [[Rebecca Allen (artist)|Rebecca Allen]], artist in computer graphics, animation, and interaction
* [[Harry Bertoia]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.modernfurnitureclassics.com/index.php/main_page/designers/designer_id/8|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904212835/http://www.modernfurnitureclassics.com/index.php/main_page/designers/designer_id/8|url-status=dead|title=Modern Furniture & Contemporary Designers, Furniture Store|date=September 4, 2012|archive-date=September 4, 2012}}</ref> artist, sound art sculptor, and modern furniture designer
* [[John DeLorean]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=De Lorean |first1=John Z. and Ted Schwarz |title=De Lorean |year=1985 |publisher=Zondervan Publishing House |url=https://archive.org/details/delorean00delo |isbn=9780310379409 |page=28}}</ref> engineer, inventor and executive in the U.S. automobile industry
* [[Niels Diffrient]], industrial designer
* [[DeWitt Sanford Dykes Sr.]], architect, minister<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wilson |first=Dreck Spurlock |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t8iTAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT235 |title=African American Architects: A Biographical Dictionary, 1865-1945 |date=2004-03-01 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-95628-8 |pages=235–250 |language=en |chapter=DeWitt Sanford Dykes Sr. (1903–1991)}}</ref>
* [[LeRoy Foster (artist)|LeRoy Foster]], painter
* [[Dorothy Henry]], cartoonist and illustrator
* [[Ray Johnson]], artist
* [[Emeline King]], industrial designer for [[Ford Motors]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clor |first=John M. |date=December 1, 2021 |title=Meet Emeline King, Ford’s 1st Black Female Transportation Designer |url=https://performance.ford.com/enthusiasts/quick-look/2021/12/meet-emeline-king.html |website=Ford Performance News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Emeline King, Ford’s 1st Black Woman Car Designer Publishes Her Incredible Life Story |url=https://phenomenalmag.com/sistem/pioneers/emeline-king-ford-s-1st-black-woman-car-designer-publishes-her-incredible-life-story |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=PhenomenalMAG |language=en-gb}}</ref>
* [[John Kloss]], fashion designer
* [[Stanley Lechtzin]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Biography: Stanley Lechtzin |url=https://www.temple.edu/crafts/metalsdirectorypage/biographies/b97.html |website=Temple |access-date=8 August 2018}}</ref> jewelry and metals artist
* [[Judy Pfaff]], artist
* [[Charles Pollock (designer)|Charles Pollock]], industrial designer
* [[Renée Radell]], painter
* [[Bill Robinson (auto designer)]], industrial designer
* [[Berta Rosenbaum Golahny]], painter, printmaker, and sculptor
* [[Ruth Adler Schnee]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/life/home-garden/2017/09/21/ruth-adler-schnee-textiles/105862424/|title=Iconic textile designer Ruth Adler Schnee going strong|work=Detroit News|access-date=2017-09-29|language=en}}</ref> textile and interior designer
* [[Maya Stovall]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whitney.org/artists/17731|title=Maya Stovall|website=whitney.org|language=en|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/16/arts/design/why-the-whitneys-humanist-pro-diversity-biennial-is-a-revelation.html|title=Why the Whitney's Humanist, Pro-Diversity Biennial Is a Revelation|last=Smith|first=Roberta|date=2017-03-16|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-04-12|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> artist and anthropologist
* [[Harold Varner (architect)|Harold Varner]], architect in Detroit<ref name="Docomomo">{{Cite web |title=Sims-Varner and Associates |url=http://nocache.docomomo-us.org/designer/sims-varner-associates |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=[[Docomomo US]] |language=en}}</ref>

}}

=== Arts and entertainment ===
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|

* [[Chanté Adams]], actress<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2018/02/23/detroit-native-chante-adams-stars-in-upcoming-netflix-film|title=Detroit native Chanté Adams stars in upcoming Netflix film|last=Fluegel|first=Alexandra|website=Detroit Metro Times|language=en|access-date=2020-02-15|archive-date=October 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024175155/https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2018/02/23/detroit-native-chante-adams-stars-in-upcoming-netflix-film|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Nicco Annan]], actor, writer and choreographer 
* [[Dorothy Ashby]], jazz harpist and composer
* [[Geri Allen]], jazz pianist, composer, and recording artist
* [[Big Sean|Sean Anderson aka Big Sean]], rapper, singer and songwriter
* [[Warren Benson]],<ref name="Ewen1982">{{cite book|author=David Ewen|title=American Composers: A Biographical Dictionary|url=https://archive.org/details/americancomposer00davi|url-access=registration|year=1982|publisher=G.P. Putnam's Sons|isbn=978-0-399-12626-0}}</ref> composer
* [[Kenny Burrell]], jazz guitarist and composer
* [[Ellen Burstyn]], actress
* [[Donald Byrd]], jazz and rhythm-and-blues trumpeter, and vocalist
* [[Bobby Byrne (musician)|Bobby Byrne]], bandleader, trombonist, and music executive
* [[Regina Carter]], jazz violinist
* [[Ron Carter]], jazz double bassist
* [[Paul Chambers]], jazz double bassist
* [[Alice Coltrane]], jazz musician and composer
* [[Muriel Costa-Greenspon]], mezzo-soprano
* [[Jerald Daemyon]], electric violinist
* [[Delores Ivory Davis]], soprano
* [[Artie Fields]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irakaufman.com/mobile/detail.php?id=3529|title=Funeral Details for Arthur Fields - Ira Kaufman Chapel|website=www.irakaufman.com}}</ref> bandleader, songwriter, record producer and jazz trumpeter
* [[Curtis Fuller]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/curtis-fuller-motor-city-messenger-curtis-fuller-by-russ-musto|title=Curtis Fuller: Motor City Messenger|author=Russ Musto|access-date=2021-10-17|year=2008}}</ref> jazz trombonist
* [[Carole Gist]], TV host, model and first African American woman to win the Miss USA title
* [[Wardell Gray]], jazz tenor saxophonist who straddled the swing and bebop periods
* [[David Alan Grier]], actor and comedian
* [[J. C. Heard]],<ref name="google1920">{{cite book |author1=Lars Björn |author2=Jim Gallert |title=Before Motown: a history of jazz in Detroit, 1920–60 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K11GJ-xaEcoC&pg=PA77 |access-date=January 8, 2011 |year=2001 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |isbn=978-0-472-06765-7 |pages=77–}}</ref> swing, bop, and blues drummer
* [[Major Holley]], jazz upright bassist
* [[Ali Jackson (jazz drummer)|Ali Jackson]], jazz drummer
* [[Michael R. Jackson]], playwright, composer, and lyricist
* [[Philip Johnson (actor)|Philip Johnson]], actor
* [[Ella Joyce]], actress
* [[Hugh Lawson (jazz pianist)|Hugh Lawson]],<ref name="google1920" /> jazz pianist
* [[Kirk Lightsey]], jazz pianist and composer
* [[Donyale Luna]], model and actress
* [[Merrick McCartha]], actor
* [[Howard McGhee]], one of the first bebop jazz trumpeters
* [[Al McKibbon]],<ref name="google1920" /> jazz double bassist
* [[Joe Messina]], jazz and Motown guitarist, [[The Funk Brothers]] member
* [[Billy Mitchell (saxophonist)|Billy Mitchell]],<ref name="google1920" /> jazz tenor saxophonist
* [[Kenya Moore]], actress, model, producer, author, television personality, and entrepreneur
* [[Naima Mora]], fashion model
* [[J. Moss]], gospel musician, composer, producer and arranger
* [[Greg Phillinganes]], keyboardist, singer-songwriter, and musical director
* [[Della Reese]], jazz and gospel singer, actress, and ordained minister
* [[Frank Rosolino]],<ref>http://www.trombone-usa.com/rosolino_frank.htm|FRANK{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ROSOLINO</ref> jazz trombonist
* [[Diana Ross]], singer, actress, and record producer
* [[Donald Sinta]], classical saxophonist, educator, and administrator
* [[Cornelius Smith Jr.]], actor
* [[Scott Tennant]], [[classical guitar]]ist
* [[Mike Terry (saxophonist)]], baritone saxophonist, [[Funk Brothers]], and [[Motown]]
* [[Lucky Thompson]],<ref name="google1920" /> jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist
* [[Lily Tomlin]], actress, comedian, writer, singer and producer
* [[Jack White]],<ref name=McCOLLUM>McCollum, Brian (September 2003). "Red, White, and Cool", ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''. '''19'''(9):68-74</ref> singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer
* [[Doug Watkins]], jazz double bassist
* [[Gerald Wilson]], jazz trumpeter, big band bandleader, composer/arranger, and educator
* [[Charles Wysocki (artist)|Charles Wysocki]], painter
}}

=== Business ===
{{Columns-list|colwidth=35em|
* [[Rosalind Brewer]], businesswoman
* [[Esther Gordy Edwards]], staff member and associate of her younger brother Berry Gordy's Motown
* [[Kevan Hall]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kevanhall.co/  |title=Kevan Hall| publisher=Kevan Hall|access-date=2018-07-10}}</ref> fashion designer
* [[Tracy Reese]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tracyreese.com/ |title=Tracy Reese |publisher=Tracy Reese |access-date=2013-12-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108184018/http://tracyreese.com/ |archive-date=January 8, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> fashion designer
* [[Preston Tucker]], automobile entrepreneur
}}

=== Educators ===
{{Columns-list|colwidth=35em|
* [[Charles Gilchrist Adams]],<ref name="harvard">{{cite web |title=HDS – Faculty – Charles G. Adams |url=http://www.hds.harvard.edu/faculty/adams.cfm |publisher=[[Harvard Divinity School]] |access-date=2010-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525104605/http://www.hds.harvard.edu/faculty/adams.cfm |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> professor at Harvard Divinity School
* [[David H. Sanford]], professor of philosophy
* [[Heather Ann Thompson]], Professor of History and Afroamerican and African Studies; Pulitzer-prize winning author
}}

=== Fiction/non-fiction ===
{{Columns-list|colwidth=35em|
* [[Daniel Okrent]], writer and editor
* [[Raynetta Mañees]], novelist and entertainer
}}

=== Journalism, publishing and broadcasting ===
{{Columns-list|colwidth=35em|
* [[Terry Foster]], sports columnist and radio personality
* [[Ed Gordon (journalist)|Ed Gordon]], journalist
* [[Pat Harvey]], broadcast journalist
* [[Gerald McDermott]], filmmaker
* [[Michael Reghi]], television play-by-play announcer and radio talk show host
* [[Shaun Robinson]], television host
* [[Jenn White]],  journalist and radio personality 
}}

=== Law, government and public policy ===
{{Columns-list|colwidth=35em|
* [[Richard H. Austin]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.wayne.edu/repositories/2/resources/1748 |title=Richard H. Austin Papers |website=Archives |publisher=Wayne State University Library System |access-date=December 2, 2021 }}</ref> Michigan secretary of state
* [[Karen Batchelor]], attorney and genealogist
* [[Cora Brown]], state senator
* [[George Cushingberry Jr.]], congressman
* [[Noah Hood]], Michigan Supreme Court justice
* [[Kwame Kilpatrick]], politician, mayor
* [[Kenneth Reeves]], mayor
* [[Barbara-Rose Collins]], congresswoman
}}

=== Library and information science ===
* [[Nancy Pearl]], librarian and best-selling author <ref>{{cite web |last=Halas |first=Susan |date=October 2017 |title= Nancy Pearl & the Pursuit of Bookish Things |url=https://www.rarebookhub.com/articles/2296 |website=Rare Book Hub |location= |publisher= |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250912213017/https://www.rarebookhub.com/articles/2296 |archive-date=2025-09-12 |access-date=2025-09-12}}</ref>

=== Military ===
{{Columns-list|colwidth=35em|
* [[Thomas E. White]], businessman and Army officer
* [[Paul Wurtsmith]], Army Air Forces general
* [[Vincent W. Patton III]], Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
}}

=== Sports ===
{{Columns-list|colwidth=35em|
* [[Tyson Acuff]], college basketball player<ref>{{cite web |title=Tyson Acuff College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/tyson-acuff-1.html |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Joe Barksdale]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/players/joebarksdale/profile?id=BAR194643|title=Joe Barksdale|website=NFL.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-22}}</ref> [[National Football League|NFL]] player
* [[David Boone]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BOONEDAV01 |title=Dave Boone |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011064435/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BOONEDAV01 |archive-date=October 11, 2012 }}</ref> NFL player
* [[George Brown (basketball)|George Brown]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasebasketball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BROWNGE01 |title=George Brown |publisher=databaseBasketball |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225081217/http://www.databasebasketball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BrownGe01 |archive-date=February 25, 2014 }}</ref> NBA player
* [[Walt Clago|Walter Clago]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=CLAGOWAL01 |title=Walter Clago |publisher=Databasefootball.com |access-date=2013-12-26 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227134051/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=CLAGOWAL01 |archive-date=December 27, 2013 }}</ref> NFL player
* [[William Campbell (American football)|Will Campbell]], NFL player
* [[Derrick Dial]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DIALDE01 |title=Derrick Dial |publisher=databaseBasketball |access-date=February 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721012129/http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DialDe01 |archive-date=July 21, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> NBA player
* [[Rob Edwards (basketball)|Rob Edwards]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.csuvikings.com/sports/m-baskbl/2015-16/bios/edwards_rob_q2w5|title=Rob Edwards|work=csuvikings.com|access-date=December 28, 2021}}</ref> NBA player
* [[Carmen Fanzone]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=fanzoca01 |title=Carmen Fanzone Stats |publisher=Basketball Almanac |access-date=February 25, 2013}}</ref> [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] player
* [[Guy Frazier]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=FRAZIGUY01 |title=Guy Frazier |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019173335/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=FRAZIGUY01 |archive-date=October 19, 2012 }}</ref> NFL player
* [[Vernon Gholston]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=GholsVer01 |title=Vernon Gholston |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601095357/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=GholsVer01 |archive-date=June 1, 2012 }}</ref> NFL player
* [[Curtis Greer]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=GREERCUR01 |title=Curtis Greer |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123142519/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=GREERCUR01 |archive-date=January 23, 2013 }}</ref> NFL player
* [[Harlan Huckleby]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HUCKLHAR01 |title=Harlan Huckleby |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408085407/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HUCKLHAR01 |archive-date=April 8, 2013 }}</ref> NFL player
* [[Lano Hill]], NFL player
* [[Kalen King]], NFL player<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2020/04/top-recruits-cass-techs-kalen-king-preparing-to-turn-dreams-into-reality.html|title=Top Recruits: Cass Tech's Kalen King preparing to turn dreams into reality|first=Josh|last=VanDyke|website=[[MLive.com]]|date=April 16, 2020|access-date=October 29, 2022}}</ref>
* [[Aaron Kyle]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=KYLEAAR01 |title=Aaron Kyle |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603193007/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=KYLEAAR01 |archive-date=June 3, 2013 }}</ref> NFL player
* [[Jourdan Lewis]], NFL player
* [[Bill Mayfield]], [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player
* [[Darris McCord]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MCCORDAR01 |title=Darris McCord |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408065220/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MCCORDAR01 |archive-date=April 8, 2013 }}</ref> NFL player
* [[Dorie Murrey]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasebasketball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MURREDO01 |title=Dorie Murrey |publisher=databaseBasketball |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203043636/http://www.databasebasketball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MURREDO01 |archive-date=February 3, 2013 }}</ref> NBA player
* [[A. J. Ofodile]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=OFODIAJ01 |title=A.J. Ofodile |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019210039/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=OFODIAJ01 |archive-date=October 19, 2012 }}</ref> NFL player
* [[Donovan Peoples-Jones]], NFL player
* [[Del'Shawn Phillips]], NFL player
* [[Chris Douglas Roberts]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/douglch01.html |title=Chris Douglas-Roberts |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=February 25, 2013}}</ref> NBA player
* [[Tom Seabron]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=SEABRTOM01 |title=Thomas Hall Seabron |publisher=Databasefootball.com |date=1957-05-24 |access-date=2013-12-26 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227154549/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=SEABRTOM01 |archive-date=December 27, 2013 }}</ref> NFL player
* [[Arnie Simkus]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=SIMKUARN01 |title=Arnie Simkus |publisher=databaseFootball.com |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018184442/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=SIMKUARN01 |archive-date=October 18, 2012 }}</ref> NFL player
* [[Eddie Tolan]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usatf.org/HallOfFame/TF/showBio.asp?HOFIDs=171 |title=Eddie Tolan |publisher=US Track &Field |access-date=February 25, 2013}}</ref> Olympic sprinter
* [[Clarence Williams (running back born 1977)|Clarence Williams]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=WILLICLA06 |title=Clarence Williams |publisher=Databasefootball.com |date=1977-05-16 |access-date=2013-12-26 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103203800/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=WILLICLA06 |archive-date=November 3, 2013 }}</ref> NFL player
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
<!-- # "DPS students shine at the National Academic Games Olympics". DPS News online. May 19, 2006. Detroit Public Schools Community District. Apr 22, 2007. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928000135/http://www.detroitk12.org/news/showNews.php?id=1529 DPS students shine at the National Academic Games Olympics]}}
# Shurney, Simone. "Music program is aged to perfection". ''CT Visionary''. Apr 30, 2007.
# Farrell, Perry. "Douglass earns 1st playoff trip". ''Detroit Free Press''. 19 Oct 7. -->

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://www.detroitk12.org/casstech}} ({{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20001010154918/http://www.detroit.k12.mi.us/schools/Cass/index.htm Archive from 2000 onwards]}})
* [http://detroiturbex.com/content/schools/cass/index.html Cass Tech High School at Detroiturbex.com]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120112172520/http://67.20.89.159/wrolandhamilton/2008/03/30/cass-technical-detroit-mi/ Cass Technical photos circa 2009 at Silentbuildings.com]}}

{{Detroit Public Schools}}
{{Midtown Detroit}}
{{Authority control}}
{{National Register of Historic Places listings in Wayne County, Michigan}}{{Portalbar|Schools|Michigan|Education}}
[[Category:Cass Technical High School alumni|*]]
[[Category:Midtown Detroit]]
[[Category:High schools in Detroit]]
[[Category:Magnet schools in Michigan]]
[[Category:Public high schools in Michigan]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1907]]
[[Category:1907 establishments in Michigan]]