Welcome!

Dearborn Public Schools is a great place for your child to flourish and grow! We welcome all students in kindergarten through 12th grade who reside within Dearborn Public Schools boundaries.  Paid preschool and free GRSP preschool is also available for families.  Learn more about our district and our programs on this page.

Our Vision

Students First – Inspire, Educate, Celebrate

Two young students at Becker Elementary in Dearborn smile for the camera in February 2020.

Our Mission

Dearborn Public Schools will provide an exceptional learning environment that empowers every student to succeed in life today and in the future.About us

About us

Dearborn Schools has 37 schools, ranging from neighborhood elementaries to specialized middle and high schools.  Having a large district means we can offer unique programs ranging from a Montessori-style elementary to a variety of career programs for high school students.  We even have our own Dearborn Virtual K-12 for students who want to learn all online with others from our community.

District-wide 95 percent of our student graduate high school.  This is among the highest rates in the state for a large school district.

The U.S. Department of Education six times has named one of our schools a National Blue Ribbon School. This includes STEM Middle School (again in 2024), Haigh Elementary (2021), Henry Ford Early College (2021), Charles A. Lindbergh Elementary (2019), STEM Middle School (2018) and Iris Becker Elementary (2017). Learn more on our Blue Ribbon Schools page.  Yeah, we have so many they get their own webpage.

Kindergarten

Starting elementary school is an exciting time for your child and your family!  Rest assured you are leaving your child in great hands with us.  All of our schools provide a safe, nurturing environment where your child can learn and grow.

Any child who lives in Dearborn Public Schools and will turn 5 years old by Sept. 1 can enroll in kindergarten.

Children who will turn 5 before Dec. 2 can also enroll if their parent signs a waiver, but we would encourage those families to consider one of our free Young 5s programs or GSRP preschool, which is free, with priority given to at-risk families.

Dearborn Schools offers a great elementary school close to wherever you live!

Our 20 neighborhood elementaries all offer low-class sizes led by highly-qualified teachers.  The district averages 21 students per class for kindergarten to second grade and about 23 per class for grades three to five. Music, art and gym are offered, and students visit the school library weekly. Reading intervention is provided to any student who needs the extra assistance.

All our schools also regularly celebrate student successes through special activities like PBIS events (Positive Behavior Intervention and Support).

Looking for something different? The district also offers a Montessori-style program at Howe Montessori and Center Based Education.  The program is free for kindergarten to fifth grade who are selected.  Paid preschools is also available.  Learn more on the Howe School page.

Most students will attend the elementary closest to them.   Visit our school attendance area map to see which building that would be for your family.

Each elementary school will hold a Kindergarten Roundup in March or April 2026 to help families learn more about their school and their program.  A full list of dates is coming soon to our First Bell website.

Missed your roundup? Visit the school’s website. Most schools will post information there.  Find the list of school websites. Dearborn Schools offers a great elementary school close to wherever you live!

 You can start enrollment for your child on our Enrollment webpage.  Note, enrollment is not complete until the district receives all the required documents.

Students must live with a parent or legal guardian in Dearborn Public Schools to enroll in the district.  Our Virtual K-12 and Henry Ford Early Colleges are the only district schools that accepts students who do not live within the district.  Students must still reside in Wayne County, MI.

Contact Student Services at 313-827-3005 if you have questions.

 

Free GSRP preschool

The Great Start Readiness Program is a state-sponsored preschool that is free to families.  In years past, families had to meet income criteria to qualify, but the state is expanding the program as it moves towards universal preschool.  Most families are now eligible.

GSRP uses curriculum aligned with the National Early Childhood Standards and Michigan State Board of Education, Early Childhood Standards of Quality.

Classrooms have a maximum of 16 students with a state-certified lead teacher and certified parapro.  The district has slots for more than 600 GSRP students.

Students attend a full day of classes Monday through Thursday.  Times vary slightly by building, but are similar to elementary times.

GSRP focuses on kindergarten readiness. In addition to learning academics like letters and colors, GSRP students learn how to get along with other children, how to take care of themselves, and other skills they will need to thrive in kindergarten.

To enroll in GSRP, children must be 4 years of age by Sept. 1 and live in Dearborn Public School district. Applications will also be accepted for students who will turn 4 between Sept. 1 and Dec. 1, but those students will only be admitted if spots are still available.

Traditionally, families had to qualify for GSRP based on income, but the state is working to expand free preschool to all children over the next few years.  For 2026-27 school year, Dearborn Public Schools is encouraging all families with a child the correct age to apply. Applications can be picked up beginning March 13, 2026 and then returned by appointment in April with the necessary documents.

Applications will be available at the following locations and times on March 13:

  • 8:15 to 10:15 a.m. at Salina Elementary, McCollough and Lowrey
  • 8:45 to 10:45 a.m. at Cotter, DuVall, Geer Park, Henry Ford, Long, McDonald, Oakman, Snow, Whitmore Bolles, and William Ford
  • 9 to 11 a.m. at Becker and River Oaks

After March 13, applications can be picked up at Cotter Early Childhood Center, 13020 Osborn St., Dearborn. Appointments can also be made by calling the school office at 313-827-6150. Visit the Cotter School webpage to learn more.

The district also offers paid preschool programs at several locations.  See our Developmental Preschool page for more information.

The largest number of GSRP classrooms is at the Cotter Early Childhood Center, 13020 Osborn St., Dearborn, but 14 other schools also house GSRP classrooms.

Those locations include:

  • Becker Elementary
  • DuVall Elementary
  • Geer Park Elementary
  • Henry Ford Elementary
  • Long Elementary
  • Lowrey Elementary
  • McCollough Elementary
  • McDonald Elementary
  • Oakman Elementary
  • River Oaks Elementary
  • Salina Elementary and Intermediate
  • Whitmore-Bolles Elementary
  • William Ford Elementary

 GSRP applications will be available starting on March 13, 2026. Appointments will then be available to return the completed form and required documents starting in April 2026. The process is run through our Cotter Early Childhood Center. You can learn more about when and how to apply on the Cotter School webpage.

Young 5s Kindergarten

Young 5s is a transitional year for students who may be technically old enough to start kindergarten, but would benefit from another year to grow socially and emotionally.  The program is free to district students. Learn more in our Why Young 5s video.

Young 5s is offered for children who turn five years old between June 15 and December 2nd or who need the time and opportunity to continue building their skills and abilities.  Their time in Young 5s Kindergarten will help them succeed in kindergarten, become leaders in the classroom, and confidently navigate the school day routine.

Young 5s is a bridge between preschool and kindergarten.  It gives young learners a head start and provides them with an opportunity to grow in an environment that is tailored to meet their academic and social needs.

Students who attend Young 5s will proceed to kindergarten the next year at their home elementary school.

The average class size for Young 5s is 12 students.

Learn more in our Young 5s brochure for 2026-27.  See the Arabic Young 5s brochure.

For the 2026-27, we plan to offer Young 5s at Geer Park, Haigh, Henry Ford, Lindbergh, Maples, McCollough, and Salina.

 Parents are encouraged to attend kindergarten roundup at their home elementary school and enroll at that school.

If there is no Young 5s classroom at their home school, or if there is no space in that program, the school will refer the family to a different building with a Young 5s program and have the child added to the request list at that school.

Available slots are released to parents from other schools in early June on a first-come, first-served basis.

Other students

Dearborn Public Schools is a great choice even if your child started school somewhere else.  Our vision of Students First means our focus stays on what is best for your child.  Because we realize each child is unique, we offer a wide variety of programs so your child can find what interests them.

Our high schools and middle schools typically hold orientations in the spring to give students and parent more information about what will become their new school in the fall.

Presentations target sixth graders at middle school and ninth graders at high school, but they provide good information for any incoming students.  See our enrollment area maps to discover which school your child would attend.

Note, Dearborn Virtual K-12 is an online only school open to any student in Wayne County from first through high school. See the school website for more information. Virtual K- 12 will hold an orientation for all incoming students, including middle and high school students, March 27 at 10 a.m. 

The high school orientation for incoming students and parents are set for:

  • Edsel Ford High, 20601 Rotunda, Feb. 11, 2026 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. 
  • Dearborn High, 19501 Outer Drive, April 28 from 6 to 8 p.m.,
  • Fordson High, 13800 Ford Road, May 5, 2026 from 5:30 to 7 p.m..
  • Henry Ford Early Colleges, for admitted students, 5101 Evergreen Road, May 19.

Orientations at the three traditional high schools will also include the opportunity for students to talk to coaches for fall sports and learn about other clubs and activities available for students.

The district’s middle school orientations include:

  • Bryant, 460 N. Vernon, on April 30 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
  • Lowrey, 6601 Jonathon, on May 6 at 10 a.m. 
  • O.L. Smith, 23851 Yale, on April 30 from 6 to 7 p.m.
  • STEM, 22586 Ann Arbor Trail, May 6, virtual meeting for invited students only.
  • Stout, 18500 Oakwood, on May 7 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
  • Unis, 7801 Maple, on April 14 from 4 to 5 p.m.
  • Woodworth, 4951 Ternes, on May 14 at 9:30 a.m.

Salina Intermediate starts in the fourth grade and does not do a sixth grade orientation.  STEM is a magnet middle school. Eligible fifth grade students in the district will be invited based on standardized test scores.

Dearborn Virtual K- 12 will hold an orientation for all incoming students, including middle and high school students, March 27 at 10 a.m.  That meeting will be virtual. The school provides an all online education for students in elementary through high school.  Learn more on the Virtual K-12 website. 

Through a close partnership with our sister organization Henry Ford College, Dearborn Public Schools is able to offer four schools and programs that allow students to get both a high school diploma and an associate degree or trade certification in five years.  These programs are free to the family including tuition and books.  Whether your child wants to go straight into a high-demand career after high school or wants a free head start on college, these programs are a great option.

Explore these options on our Programs page.

Note, the three Henry Ford Early College programs are also open to students who live in Wayne County outside of Dearborn Public Schools.  All students must apply to HFEC during the winter of their eighth grade year.  Applications are open until Feb. 6, 2026.

 All three of our traditional high schools – Fordson, Dearborn High and Edsel Ford – use a Career Academies model to help students explore careers from trades to advanced degrees.

Students also can explore careers directly with classes ranging from AP Computer Science to criminal justice to construction through the Michael Berry Career Center.

Students interested in STEM fields may want to be part of the Dearborn Center for Math, Science and Technology in high school or our selective STEM Middle School.

Hundreds of district students every year also take part in dual enrollment, taking Henry Ford College classes for high school and college credit at no cost to the family.

Want to learn more about our curriculum?  Please visit our curriculum page.

We offer the Dearborn Public Schools Virtual K-12 for students from first grade through high school who want an online learning experience.  Students have live lessons with district teachers and participate with classmates from the Dearborn Schools community in an all online setting.

To learn more about the school and see if it may be a good fit for your child, visit the Virtual K-12 website.  Note, students already enrolled in the district need to signup in the spring to transfer to VK-12 the next school year.

Dearborn Virtual K-12 is also open to students in first grade through high school who live outside of the Dearborn Public Schools district but still in Wayne County.

Dearborn Public Schools enrollment is open year round to students who live with a parent or guardian inside the district.

If you know your child will be starting with us next school year, enrolling in the spring ensures we have staff and supplies ready for them when school opens.

To start enrollment for your student, please visit our enrollment page.