# Girls Catholic Central High School

Girls' Catholic Central High School (GCC) was a private, non-boarding college preparatory secondary school for girls grades 9 through 12 located in midtown Detroit, Michigan.

## History

In September 1893, four IHM Sisters (Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) opened a school called St. Patrick's, at Cathedral parish in Detroit. After several years as St. Patrick's Grade School, and Saints Peter and Paul Academy, the building was renamed Catholic Central High School for Girls and converted into a high school curriculum in the school year 1927-28. The first graduate was recorded on June 22, 1899.
Thereafter, the school, under its new name, Girls’ Catholic Central High School, and under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Detroit, was administered by the IHM Sisters, Priests of the CICM order, and was accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation. The tuition-based academic program included strict entrance exams and admission requirements under which potential student applicants were carefully scrutinized.
Many students traveled from considerable distances, not only from Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park but also suburbs including Ferndale, Grosse Pointe, and Livonia. Although the student body was predominantly white for many years, the social changes of the late 1950s and early 1960s began to bring about the enrollment of a small number of students of color.
Located on a quiet side street in mid-town Detroit, the three-story school building's Gothic Revival structure is in keeping with the beautiful sounds wafting from nearby Orchestra Hall as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra rehearsed. Familiar symphonies and classical works by famous composers inadvertently provided musical accompaniment to afternoon classes.

## Academics

The demanding college preparatory curriculum offered the required and elective courses at each grade level in Religion, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language (Latin I, II, III), Business (Typing, Shorthand), and Physical Education.

## Religion

With both St. Thérèse the Little Flower, and Patroness The Virgin Mary as inspiration, the principles of Christian life in the Roman Catholic tradition were stressed at all times. In addition to IHM Sisters faculty members, Diocesan priests of the CICM order also held regular religion classes. The academic program was accompanied by mandatory strict adherence to deeply religious values and devotion to the Catholic faith and Church rituals. Prior to the beginning of classes each morning, Mass was attended at the Chapel of St. Theresa-the Little Flower, which was adjacent to the school building, and the Sacrament of Confession was offered weekly.

## 1969 to 2025

Girls’ Catholic Central High School held its final graduation ceremony and closed its doors for the last time in 1969. The historic building sat vacant until 1973, when Sister Mary Watson, O.P. (1934-2021) of the Racine Dominican order, seized upon the previously unrecognized potential of the abandoned school building. So, she initiated a free meal program for senior parishioners of St. Patrick's Church, which is located next door. And with the support and blessing of the Church's pastor, Rev. Thomas J. Duffey, (1924-2007), Sister Mary worked diligently, raising funds and seeking out grants in order to grow her ministry. Soon, as word spread around the Cass Corridor community, the need for the services being offered was confirmed. Today, approaching 50 years of service to Detroit seniors, St. Patrick Senior Center has grown and expanded tremendously, and under the leadership of executive director SaTrice Coleman-Betts, offers a host of senior services for people over the age of 55.

## Notable alumna

* Toi Derricotte (1958) — poet, memoirist