Advertisement

GreatSchools Rating

Henry Ford Academy

Charter | 9-12 | 507 students

Last modified
Community Rating

4 stars

Community Rating by Year
2013:
Based on 1 rating
2012:
Based on 1 rating
2011:
Based on 3 ratings
2010:
No new ratings

Teacher quality

Principal leadership

Parent involvement

Rate this school

Click on stars to rate
Please select a star rating for this school.
    Helpful reviews answer questions:
  • What do you think others should know?
  • What do you like?
  • How could your school improve?
    Review Guidelines
    GreatSchools won’t post reviews that contain:
  • Inappropriate language
  • Allegations of criminal conduct
  • Names of students, teachers or staff
1200 characters remaining
Please indicate your relationship to the school.
Please read and accept our Terms of Use to join GreatSchools.
Indicates a required field

25 reviews of this school


Sort by:
Show reviews by:
Posted May 11, 2013

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


Posted May 6, 2012

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


Posted October 2, 2011

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


Posted June 10, 2011

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


Posted June 9, 2011

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


Posted September 13, 2009

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


Posted July 31, 2009

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


Posted July 13, 2009

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


Posted April 10, 2009

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


Posted December 14, 2008

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


Posted October 23, 2008

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


Posted May 9, 2008

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


Posted October 25, 2007

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


Posted July 5, 2007

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


Posted April 27, 2007

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


Posted April 14, 2007

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


Posted March 27, 2007

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


Posted December 8, 2006

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


Posted June 27, 2006

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


Posted June 2, 2006

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


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.

Grade level

Social Studies

The state average for Social Studies was 29% in 2013.

143 students were tested at this school in 2013.

2013

 
 
18%

2011

 
 
59%

2010

 
 
73%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2012-2013 Michigan used the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) to test students in grades 3 through 8 in math, reading and writing; in grades 5 and 8 in science; and in grades 6 and 9 in social studies. The MEAP is a standards-based test, which measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Michigan. The goal is for all students to score at or above the proficient level.

Beginning in the 2011-2012 school year, the Michigan State Board of Education implemented new definitions of what it means to be proficient on the MEAP test. The new standards for proficiency are higher than in previous years and the percent of students earning a proficient score is expected to be lower as a result of this change.

See Michigan's state standards

Source: Michigan Department of Education

Math

The state average for Math was 29% in 2012.

130 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
9%

2011

 
 
26%

2010

 
 
33%

2009

 
 
32%
Reading

The state average for Reading was 56% in 2012.

130 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
42%

2011

 
 
47%

2010

 
 
58%

2009

 
 
52%
Science

The state average for Science was 26% in 2012.

130 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
9%

2011

 
 
41%

2010

 
 
40%

2009

 
 
39%
Social Studies

The state average for Social Studies was 41% in 2012.

130 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
16%

2011

 
 
67%

2010

 
 
73%

2009

 
 
76%
Writing

The state average for Writing was 49% in 2012.

130 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
45%

2011

 
 
36%

2010

 
 
39%

2009

 
 
31%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 Michigan used the Michigan Merit Examination (MME) to assess students in grade 11 in reading, writing, math, science and social studies. The MME is a standards-based test, which measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Michigan. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

Beginning in the 2011-2012 school year, the Michigan State Board of Education implemented new definitions of what it means to be proficient on the MME test. The new standards for proficiency are higher than in previous years and the percent of students earning a proficient score is expected to be lower as a result of this change.

See Michigan's state standards

Source: Michigan Department of Education

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
Black 75% 20%
White 21% 71%
Hispanic 3% 5%
American Indian/Alaska Native 0% 1%
Asian/Pacific Islander 0% 3%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 16%N/A42%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 19N/A18
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

School basics

School Leader's name
  • Ms. Cora Christmas
Fax number
  • (313) 982-6195

Programs

Specific academic themes or areas of focus

Don't understand these terms?
  • Special education
School leaders can update this information here.
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

20900 Oakwood Blvd
Dearborn, MI 48124
Website: Click here
Phone: (313) 982-6193

ADVERTISEMENT

Compare this school
to nearby schools

Compare schools »

Compare

Add this school to compare

Nearby schools

ADVERTISEMENT