Henry Ford Academy

HFA is the ideal environment if you prefer your child to be educated in a small personalized environment. HFA's class size allows the teachers to become personally familiar with each student. The academic requirements are stringent with a AP program for students that qualify. HFA also provides a program that includes students with special needs. It is important that students receive their education in an environment that exposes them to the real world. My son is a 10 th grader and enjoys his time at HFA. I would highly recommend this school
—Submitted by a parent

the best school ever in mi to me.just because it in a museum.we have the best teacher that help use out and care about us.
—Submitted by a student

I am a freshmen at HFA and I just want to say that I was in the position where I didnt know which highschool to go to( it was between HFA and riverview community high school) and about a month before the school year i finally decided henry ford academy and so far its the best descion i have made.
—Submitted by a student

I have twin daughters who are graduating from HFA this Monday, June 13th. They attended school here their junior and senior years. The only thing I would change is for them to have attended freshman and sophomore years too. We love the school and staff. The teachers are great, they truly care about the kids and want them to excel. They go above and beyond to help them. Their grades improved and they met so many great friends here. We attended a baccalaureate service the other night with some of their classmates from their old high school, I was surprised after when they said they didn't miss their other school at all. They said it was just how they remembered, lots of clicks. I have recommended this school to many people. We even brought two of their friends from their old high school with us junior year. We have had nothing but positive experiences here and will miss the school and staff very much.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a mother of an incoming senior and we have been very pleased with the education my son has received at Henry Ford Academy at Greenfield Village. Coming from a private school for K-8th my expectations high and the school has lived up to them. Henry Ford Academy has been ranked #1 for Charter High Schools in the Detroit area. That with the campus in the #1 History attraction in the nation makes for a great experience.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm a parent of 10th grade twins, so far My husband and I are pleased with the school. We really like how the teachers are make the classes fun with interaction. The classes aren't borning. I can really say that my children enjoied their freshman year. They could have gone to another great high school, but they really wanted to attend HFA.
—Submitted by a parent

I love being a part of the HFA family im am a freshamn going into sophmore year and i love it! but i agree the Binder assignments are a bit harsh and put pressure on students i have had many occasions where i freaked out over it and its not fun!. but i understand they are preparing us for college and in collge you have to be organized and prepered but i think there is a better alternative to this tactic
—Submitted by a student

My sophmore year at HFA was my first and last year there. The school needs more discipline!! Kids dancing on tables w/ their head phones in?!?! It's embarassing! Not to mention, the office administration is highly disorganized. The reason this school is rated so highly is that, no offense to you five-stars out there, Detroit schools are horrible and by comparison, HFA is utopia. Yet, taking that a step further, HFA in comparison to public, charter, and private is horrible. The teachers are underpaid, underqualified, overbearing, and arrogant to boot. They are pessimistic of their students in that they assume you don't care about authority and only want to undermine the educational system. No chance! One last thing. HFA's lottery system is a very bad idea. They accept anybody. It is the great 'melting pot' for the surrounding districts. They could at least consider a kid's prior educational acheivments and felonies.
—Submitted by a student

I'm a freshman at HFA, and don't get me wrong-it's a great school! But, it's very organization based. I had 2 classes I barely passed because of the heavily-weighted binder organization checks. I think this school is better if your child can be very organized!
—Submitted by a student

I think its an excellent school. Ive had so many opportunities thus far. This school helps you to develop an adult mindset, even before you enter the real world. HFA is a great school to me, you should look into getting your children to going to this school. No school is better. Go class of 2010 baby!!!!
—Submitted by a student

My son is a new student at HFA this year. I'm happy with the school already. The school is small and personalized. The teachers care for the students and go out of their way to help them be successful. There is great communication between the school and the parents. Parents can even track their student's attendance and grades online. It doesn't get much better than this. HFA is an excellent college-prep school. My son loves the school, the teachers and the campus. Being able to attend school at a museum is a once in a lifetime experience. Keep up the great work HFA!!
—Submitted by a parent

My son was a student at Henry Ford Academy back in the year 2001. He was in the first Graduation class. It was such a wonderful experience. We were really excited about him being chosen through the lottery. He made lots of new freinds and aquaintances. I loved the hands on teaching and the interesting speakers that came in to tell of their experiences as professionals. The teachers and staff were so helpful and loving also. The atmosphere was wonderful and the graduation ceremony was awsome. The whole experience was such a blessing for me, then a single Mom. Patricia Green-Tucker parent of Christopher Green, and he is doing very well presently.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a new senior to HFA and I have more than enjoyed my experience so far. I would recommend this school to parents who are looking for a great quality education. The staff is like no other you will find; you will see that they truly care about you and your education. It's a very friendly environment and diverse group of students. If you come or should I say lucky enough to attend HFA be ready to work and ready to learn something new everyday.
—Submitted by Joe, a student

As a 2007 graduate, I recommend this school to everyone. When I first heard about this school, I wasn't thrilled at all. I would've preferred to go to the high school where all my friends were going to. But, I decided to try it out, and if I didn't like it I would transfer. Within the first three days of school, I knew I had made the right decision of staying. The Staff/Teachers are simply amazing people. Always helpful, personable and pushing you to excel. Because it is a smaller school, teachers as well as students know everyone by name. Not only is it full of great people, Henry Ford Academy is an amazing learning atmosphere. One of the schools main focuses is career placement. With the Senior Mastery Process, I have found many career choices, and am much more able to pursue them. -Lauren Leese-
—Submitted by a student

I love HFA not that many after school activities but hey they have basketball. The teachers are so well prepared and fun I love this school. GATOR pride baby
—Submitted by a student

I am a parent of a June 2006 graduate. I love HFA, this school and the staff really get the young adults prepared for college. Yes, this school is not the average high school, it doesnt have alot of sports or a gym, but who cares. It is about academics. The principal, teachers and counselors are there because they truly care about what happens with those kids. My daughter came to HFA with some doubts but had to admit how much she loved the school and truly misses the staff and students. She currently attends college out of state with a scholarship.Myself andHFA helped my daughter become who she is today. If you are looking for a good academic based high school for your son/daughter you really need to apply for admission. THis is a excellent school with a staff of teachers, Principal, and counselors who truly care.
—Submitted by Cathy Thompson, a parent

I think this school is excellent. It provides many opportunities for kids to excel in college and in the 'real' world. This school challenges its students and does not accept excuses. My child is a 9th grader this year and thought he could just ace through. Now he is beginning to see that he needs to buckle down or get left behind. The teachers are great. I get to know them well at PT conferences. I will admit that not all respond to emails which is not acceptable to me. I would recommend this school to everyone however if your child is lazy, this is not the school for them.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a current student at hfa and I have been here since 04 till now 06 I will not be returning for my senior year 08 because I feel like I am not getting the true high school expereince. The classes are too long, and there are no real clubs that I could join that really intreast me. This school is very unorganized and I would not reccomend this school to anybody!
—Submitted by a student

As a recently graduated student of Henry Ford Academy, I can agree that it is a decent school in its own right. If your child enjoys math, science and technology, this is probably an excellent school to consider. However, if your child is more interested in English or the arts, HFA is not your best option. This is the problem I encountered during my four years there. Extracurricular activities do exist, but again, they are geared towards the more technologically inclined. Generally speaking, the teaching staff is more than qualified, but several excellent teachers have departed from the Academy in recent years (such as Julie Erdman, Amanda Maher and Karen Galley). Graduating from HFA, I feel like I never had the opportunity to fully experience high school. If you are considering HFA as an option, REALLY consider it. There are more flaws within the school than people realize.
—Submitted by a student

Not as a parent, but as a former teacher, I can say that HFA is innovative in curriculum and design. I believe HFA is at the cutting edge of educational reform. The original idea, was that teachers would work there for a few years, then return to the public schools to inspire others. I'm doing just that. The administration and teachers truly care about each and every child. The teachers are a creative bunch, and work above and beyond the call of duty. Parents are involved. I disagree with a prior comment, there ARE plenty of extracurricular activities, but no, there isn't a football team. The focus is where it should be, on academics, but there are other opportunities (athletics, arts, etc). Yes, the polo shirts aren't cheap, but I'm sure you'd be spending just as much, if not more, on school clothes, anyways.
—Submitted by Julie Thornton (Erdman), a teacher