Kosciusko Elementary School
20390 Tireman Ave, Detroit, MI 48228
-Abandoned 2007
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History of Kosciusko Elementary School
Kosciusko (kaa·shoo··skow) Elementary School is a abandoned school on the far west side of Detroit built in 1955, and was a very late addition to the Detroit Public Schools District. The school is named after Tadeusz Kościuszko a Polish Military Engineer that is considered a American Hero for his role in saving George Washington's life during the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. Kościuszko's tactical brilliance and daring cavalry maneuver allowed Washington to escape capture. The Kosciusko school was built all in one phase and never received a extra addition, leading to a unified architecture style, however due to the one phase build it is one of the smaller schools in Detroit at only 35,000 Sf. A sharp population decline in the neighborhood leading into the 2000s caused the school to close at the end of the 2006-2007 school year due to the low enrollment of 286 students. Kosciusko was designed for 400 students. The land bank accuqired the school in 2015, and in 2020 a study of schools around Detroit ranked Kosciusko as #4 best condition of #39 city owned schools. However the author of AbandonedCommercialDetroit does not agreed with this ranking and would put it in a sub top 10 condition of the schools listed in the report.
Additional Reading
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Tadeusz Kościuszko was a Polish General who fought alongside George Washington in the American Independence War and led an uprising against Russian rule in Poland in 1794. He is credited as a American war hero for his for his role in saving George Washington's life during the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. Kościuszko's tactical brilliance and daring cavalry maneuver allowed Washington to escape capture.
Recollection from the author
Kosciusko was a small but interesting school in sections, the auditorium section was unique compared to many Detroit schools. However the hallways lacked much to any character in them. Like Coffey Middle School the titles of the floor smashed by vandals lead to a crunching sounds beneath my shoes. Kosciusko also had a portable classroom unit that was wide open to explore and was my first chance to see the inside of these temporary classrooms found at many school sites around Detroit.
front of the school
The front facade of the school is a typical 1950s era overhang
corner of the school the schools auditorium is beyond the walls visible
1st floor hallway
1st floor as seen from a staircase
Some tile work on the first floor remains intact in sections
Kindergarten room entrance
The kindergarten room a very basic square
kindergarten room shot 2
Kindergarten room shot 3
kindergarten room shot 4
A tree painting in the kindergarten room
One of the connecting corridors between the kindergarten room and another classroom
1st floor classroom next to kindergarten room
science classroom entrance (room 104)
A science classroom (room 104)
another 1st floor classroom
Another 1st floor classroom
A teachers cabinet left behind in one of the classrooms
Main entrance to the school
A mosaic tile design by the main entrance on the wall that is adjacent to the school's greenhouse room
Auditorium entrance
The school greenhouse on the other side of the wall would be the mosaic tile and the main entrance
Auditorium shot 1
Auditorium shot 2
Auditorium shot 3
Auditorium shot 4
Auditorium shot 5 (Note many of the chairs have been scrapped out)
Auditorium shot 6
Gymnasium shot 1
Gymnasium shot 2
Gymnasium shot 3 (Kitchen serving area)
Inside the Kitchen room
Kitchen room shot 2
Fold out tables line the walls of the Gymnasium
More fold out table note the basketball hoops have been scrapped out
Gymnasium exit
Likely the office area
office area shot 2
An original poster from the school
2nd floor hallway
2nd floor staircase note the natural light given via a metal vps like board
Many 2nd floor classrooms have began to warp due to open windows
2nd floor classroom with much of the wooden boards still intact on the windows
2nd floor classroom with no boards on window
another 2nd floor classroom
another 2nd floor classroom space
A open window on the 2nd floor staircase
2nd floor hallway natural light
both ends of the school give great natural light on the 2nd floor