History of Detroit Transition School East/Washington Trade School

The Detroit Transition School East also known by the names Washington Trade School and Washington Elementary School which for the rest of this history will be refereed to as Washington Trade School was a school built in 1925 in response in increased enrollment in Detroit Public Schools. Washington Trade School was built as a elementary school originally and was built along side 5 other schools with a $5,000,000 allotment of funds to Detroit Public Schools. Washington was the first school built by the city of Detroit that was one story in it’s full floor plan. This was done to not have to use extra money to build fire escapes and stairwells. During the time of WWII the school was used as a Vocational Education center for the booming industry of talent and economy that Detroit fueled towards the war effort in WWII. Between 1941 and 1944 17,605 workers where trained at Washington. In 1942 the northeast courtyard was turned into a automotive shop. Which remains as one of the more major trades that was taught at the building. After WWII the school with it’s Vocational Education programs continued as a trade school. In 1954 a renovation came to the school in the form of a new auditorium facelift. In the 1970’s much of the remaining courtyards were filled in to accommodate more trades and a new cafeteria. Later in Washington’s life it was renamed to Detroit Transition School East and the school was closed in 2010.