Jalen Rose Leadership Academy’s halls are abuzz between classes. Students open lockers painted a familiar maize and blue.
In one room, seniors settle into auditorium-style seating to complete FAFSA forms, fresh off college admissions decisions.
In another, those serving in-school suspension receive homework help.
And outside, under a steady drizzle, students in ponchos hand donation boxes filled with food to community members in cars lined up down the block, part of a weekly partnership with Forgotten Harvest.
Founded in 2011 by Jalen Rose — former NBA player, sports broadcaster, and famed member of the University of Michigan’s “Fab Five” — to spur success in his hometown, the academy serves more than 400 students and boasts a 95% graduation rate, with 100% of graduates accepted into a college or technical program.
The school requires students to apply to at least eight colleges and participate in an after-school activity, whether it’s work, sports, or even Geek Club, a video game student organization. Classes also weave in regular college visits throughout the year.
JRLA follows a 9-16 model, providing guidance from freshman year through college.
As students begin high school, the academy pairs them with a faculty member who remains their advisor for all four years and serves as the primary contact for their families. In college, JRLA alumni remain connected to another staff member who assists with academic adjustment and financial aid.
“You see kids when they’re in 10th grade, and you’re like, ‘Oh my, I hope they can figure it out,’” says humanities instructional coach Jonathon Spees. “And then they do, and it’s the best thing.”
Advisors focus not only on academic work like SAT prep but also on emotional support, upholding the school’s leadership principles: family, respect, excellence, and determination.
“Teenagers are always going to push boundaries,” Spees says. “Teenagers are always going to make mistakes. It’s how you handle that as a school and how you prepare them for success moving forward.”
At JRLA, the shot clock never stops. Rigorous coursework and high expectations continue year-round, culminating each spring in Senior Signing Day, held this year on May 1 at the Wayne State Fieldhouse. At the event, graduating seniors announce their college decisions to classmates, teachers, family members, and underclassmen in need of inspiration.
The ceremony reflects the resilience Spees sees in students daily. “How are they building generational wealth and prosperity? How are they breaking cycles? That’s what we’re here for,” he says.
Soon, JRLA hopes to reach students even earlier.
The academy plans to convert its current northwest Detroit building into a middle school while relocating its high school two miles east to the former Kingswood Hospital on the Royal Oak Township border.
Henry Ford Health donated the 70,000-square-foot space, scheduled to open in time for the 2027-2028 school year.
“Students come in ninth grade not ready to go, with a lot of gaps in reading and math, and we’ve found the best way to handle that is to have them be with us earlier,” Spees says. “That’s where we’re putting our focus right now. We’re gonna expand.”
Rose projects that the academy will double its enrollment between the two campuses, deepening JRLA’s impact on Detroit’s youth for years to come.
“Thanks to a transformational gift from Henry Ford Health and the support of our board of directors on our upcoming capital campaign, we can finally build the high school campus our scholars and staff deserve,” Rose says. “As we complete our 15th year of operations, I’ve never been so excited for the trajectory of our school.”
This story originally appeared in the September 2026 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our digital edition.
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