District snapshot · Wayne County · Wayne RESA
Grosse Pointe: what's here, what's near, what's next.
Grosse Pointe Public Schools (about 6,400 students, two high schools: North and South) is known for strong academics: 27 AP courses and most graduates headed to four-year colleges. This snapshot looks at the other doors: college credit, career and technical education, the trades and hands-on exploration. It shows what the district runs, what a Grosse Pointe student can reach nearby and where families should ask questions.
Checked October 2026 against the district's 2026-27 High School Program of Studies, MI School Data and partner sites. Schools change programs often, so confirm with the counseling office.
At a glance
Offered here run by the district · Reachable nearby open to GP students elsewhere · Ask exists but details aren't published · Not published online we couldn't find it on the district's website, so ask your school
| Option | Status | What we found |
|---|---|---|
| AP courses | Offered here | 27 AP courses. South reports 81% of 2026 exams scored 3 or higher. |
| State-approved CTE | Offered here | 8 programs at North: business, cybersecurity, culinary arts, digital media design, education, finance, TV broadcasting and marketing. State data lists 3 of them at South. |
| Industry certifications | Offered here | Cisco and CompTIA in cybersecurity, ServSafe in culinary. |
| Dual enrollment | Ask | District policy allows grades 9-12, but partner colleges and deadlines aren't published. |
| Early Middle College | Reachable nearby | GPPSS doesn't run one. Henry Ford Early College in Dearborn admits Wayne County residents entering grade 9. |
| Building trades and manufacturing CTE | Ask | Not offered in district. The Program of Studies lists shared-time seats in Macomb consortiums from grade 11 (families drive), but current availability is unconfirmed. |
| Engineering and design courses | Offered here | At South: Engineering Graphics, Architecture, CAD and Small Engine Repair (not state-approved CTE programs). |
| Free virtual courses | Offered here | Up to 2 online credits a year, or 2 per semester with counselor approval. Since a semester course is usually half a credit, that lines up with the state's 2 courses per semester. Grosse Pointe also launched GP Virtual School with Michigan Virtual in fall 2026. |
| Work-based learning | Offered here | Senior co-ops in business, marketing, culinary, medical aides and trade and industry (drafting, automotive, electrical and more). |
| Robotics | Offered here | FRC Team 1189, the Gearheads, sponsored by General Motors, for North and South students. |
| Career events | Offered here | An annual Skilled Trades Career Night at North (third year in 2025), plus middle school career days. |
| College credit agreements | Ask | One named: Business Computer Technologies I with Macomb Community College. |
| Apprenticeship and union links | Not published online | No youth apprenticeship or union pre-apprenticeship partnership found. |
| Named employer partners | Not published online | Co-ops and medical shadowing exist, but no hospital or employer partners are named publicly. |
Offered here: the highlights
- Cybersecurity is a standout. A three-level sequence at North with Cisco and CompTIA certifications, the kind employers hire on. Level I needs teacher and counselor recommendations.
- Every culinary student earns ServSafe, the food safety credential restaurants require.
- South's design track is deep. Up to eight levels of Engineering Graphics and six of Architecture, plus CAD and Small Engine Repair. These feed the senior Trade and Industry co-op.
- Seniors can work for credit. Co-ops run about 15 hours a week, and a co-op student can carry up to 5 credits.
- Team 1189 has competed at the state championship. Robotics is one of the best ways for a tinkerer to see engineering, machining and electrical work up close.
- The 2025 bond (passed with 70%) includes new career and technical education spaces at North and South.
Sources: GPPSS High School Program of Studies 2026-27 · GPPSS CTE · MI School Data, CTE Programs Offered (Sept. 2026) · South HS Profile 2025-26 · GPPSS 2025 bond · The Blue Alliance, Team 1189
Reachable nearby
Henry Ford Early College (Dearborn)
An Early Middle College run by Dearborn Public Schools with Henry Ford College and Henry Ford Health. Open to Wayne County residents entering 9th grade who pass reading and math tests. About 50 seats, with a lottery if more apply. Applications run December to February, so current 8th graders apply this winter.
Dual enrollment colleges
- Macomb Community College, South Campus in Warren
- Wayne County Community College District, Eastern Campus on Conner
- Henry Ford College, Dearborn
- Wayne State University and Oakland University
Early College of Macomb is limited to Macomb County students, so Grosse Pointe residents don't qualify.
Trades training for after high school
- IBEW Local 58 electrical apprenticeship, Warren. Ages 17+, diploma or GED and a year of algebra. Next window posted spring 2027.
- Plumbers, pipefitters, carpenters and more: see union training centers.
Summer and after school
Henry Ford College career camps, Wayne State and Lawrence Tech engineering camps, Michigan Tech's statewide program, DAPCEP Saturday classes and more. Build a plan and they're matched to your child's grade and interests.
Questions to ask
Bring these to a counselor meeting or the CTE coordinator. Each one has an answer that isn't published yet.
- Which colleges do Grosse Pointe students dual enroll at, what are the deadlines and how much does the district pay per course?
- Are shared-time seats in the Macomb consortiums (building trades, machining, nursing, EMT) still available for 2026-27? Is there any transportation help?
- State data lists 3 CTE programs at South and 8 at North. Can South students take North-only programs like cybersecurity?
- Which employers and hospitals host co-op and medical shadowing students?
- Are there college credit agreements beyond the one with Macomb, for example for culinary, TV production or marketing?
- Is the district considering an Early Middle College, building trades or a youth apprenticeship partnership, especially with the new CTE spaces in the bond?
- Will the Skilled Trades Career Night continue, and is it open to South and middle school families?
Who to ask: the high school counseling offices (North 313-432-3200, South 313-432-3535), the district CTE coordinator, Transition Services at North for outside CTE placements and the Curriculum office (313-432-3042).
For district leaders
A strong foundation with room to grow
Grosse Pointe already has the hard parts: certification-based CTE, a deep design sequence, senior co-ops, a nationally competitive robotics team, family demand (a trades night now in its third year) and voter-approved money for new CTE spaces. Within reach:
- Publish the dual enrollment partners and deadlines. It costs nothing and it's the most common parent question.
- Join or build an Early Middle College pathway with Henry Ford College, Macomb or Wayne County Community College District. The fifth year is paid for with the state per-student allowance, which then covers college tuition, staffing and transportation, so it takes planning, not new local money.
- Add a youth apprenticeship link with a nearby union training center, starting from the Trade and Industry co-op students who already work in the field.
- Name the employer partners behind co-ops and shadowing, and invite more through CTE advisory committees.
District staff: see something wrong or missing? Email hello@michiganskills.com and we will correct it within a week. Snapshots are built from public sources only, and we show districts new snapshots before they go live.