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Inside Detroit's High School for Future Pilots

Daily Detroit

About this episode

On today's Daily Detroit, we're talking about what it really looks like when a public school system bets big on kids — and on the skies. 

We're joined at the table by Principal Michelle Davis of Davis Aerospace Technical High School and Kerrie Mitchell Campbell‑Mabins, president and CEO of the DPSCD Foundation.

Davis Aerospace is the only aviation‑themed high school on this side of the state, and their students aren't just reading about planes — they're earning FAA drone certifications, logging at least 40 flight hours, and in some cases getting a pilot's license before a driver's license.

The school owns three Cessnas, is moving back into a newly reimagined Detroit City Airport terminal, and pairs that rigor with hot chocolate bars, a "Zen den," low chronic absenteeism, and a 100% graduation rate.

We also get into how the DPSCD Foundation is scaling support across 105 schools and 49,000 students, from transforming Cooley High into an athletic complex to a coming high school redesign that builds real career and college pathways.

If you care about Detroit's future, these are the kids — and the adults — to watch.

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Inside Detroit's High School for Future Pilots

Daily Detroit

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