[1] People who were a part of the group Parent Support Network argued that the Lansing School District facilities had not adequately served black children, and they used that as the reason to create the Shabazz School.
It initially was in an ex-ice cream shop,[3] and later it occupied what was previously Pleasant Grove Elementary School.
Its initial enrollment was 150, and that was below the number of students who had applied to attend the school.
[4] Central Michigan University was the authorizer of the school's charter.
[6] In 2020 a court forced the board of education of the school to begin the process of selling the building.