DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – The Detroit Public Schools Community District has more empty school buildings than the entire Lansing Public Schools system has in total.

That’s a byproduct of enrollment plummeting from 168,213 in 2000 to 48,631 this school year.

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The school district released a report stating it manages 28 vacant buildings and over 300 parcels of vacant land throughout the city of Detroit. Lansing has 27 school buildings.

The district’s vacant buildings come with a cost for maintenance.

In September 2025, the city of Detroit handed the Detroit school district a $555,000 bill for property maintenance fees, such as boiler inspection fees, blighted property fees, and vacant property fees, among others, according to a school district memo.

The school district negotiated a deal with the city of Detroit to sell 30 vacant parcels for $150,000 to help pay for that maintenance bill.