District Profile
Dearborn Public Schools is the third largest school district in Michigan with almost 20,000 students. The district operates 37 schools across 36 buildings. We provide services ranging from the free preschool for qualified families to free early college programs that allow any able high school student to earn an associate degree or trade certificate before they graduate high school. In June 2023, the district was reaccredited by Cognia Global Commission for a six-year term.
We take to heart our mission, which is – Students First: Inspire, Educate, Celebrate.
By the numbers:
- Dearborn Schools has a 96 percent graduation rate as of the Class of 2022.
- Dearborn Schools has received five National Blue Ribbon Schools awards in eight years, including the only high school to make the list in 2021. STEM Middle School has received the award twice.
- We have four early middle college programs. Each allows students to blend high school and college classes to graduate in five years with both a high school diploma and associate degree or trade certificate. This is offered at no cost to the student’s family thanks to our close partnership with Henry Ford College.
- Dearborn Public Schools Virtual K-12 offers students the chance to learn entirely online with instruction from district teachers and alongside other online only students. This program is open to students outside the district but still in Wayne County, Michigan.
- About 45 percent of our students are English learners and 80 percent come from homes that are low-income.
- More than 80 percent of our students enroll in some post-secondary program within a year of graduating.
- We offer free lunch and breakfast to all kindergarten to 12th grade students learning in-person.
- We have the highest dual enrollment rate in the state, with more than 800 of our traditional high school students also taking college classes. (This is in addition to those in the special five-year programs.) High school students also have access to a variety of Advanced Placement classes.
About Dearborn
Dearborn Public Schools includes almost all of Dearborn and a small section of Dearborn Heights in the Detroit Metro area (see map). Auto giant Henry Ford was born on a small farm in Dearborn, and the city is still home to Ford World Headquarters and the company’s main research and development campus. Many local institutions, including several schools, are named after members of the Ford family.
The school district is part of a growing, vibrant area built upon quality education and outstanding city services. Schools, housing, and retail development complement the existing infrastructure to provide residents with a safe, stable community.
Each and every one of our schools is a great place for your child to receive their education. The district offers programs and services to meet the needs of all students. To find out more, please contact the school in your neighborhood or the Administration Office at (313) 827-3006.
OUR COMMITMENT (what we will do)
Dearborn Public Schools will ensure:
- a safe and nurturing environment for all students
- a rigorous and challenging instructional program designed to meet the unique needs/interests of all learners
- dynamic and individualized instruction rooted in research and established best practices – every hour, every day
- attention to the development of the whole child
- strong, collaborative partnerships with families and the community that enhance opportunities for student success at every level
- an openness to new technologies, approaches and structures that enable the District to remain a leader of educational change
INDICATORS OF SUCCESS
- Consider student needs as the first priority when making any decision.
- Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of every learner.
- Honor accomplishments through celebrations.
- Promote an attitude of lifelong learning.
- Develop strong partnerships within the community to support a culture of learning for all.
- Provide job embedded professional learning to enhance student success.
- Implement My Learning Plan (MLP) as an integral part of the daily lives of students.
- Provide a safe learning environment so every failure is a new opportunity to learn.
- Invest in staff at all levels to produce a caring and nurturing environment for students.
- Strive for best effort-everyday
OUR CORE VALUES
Honesty – To demonstrate honesty, we need to …
- Be truthful.
- Treat all people fairly.
Respect for Self and Others – To demonstrate respect for self and others, we need to …
- Be courteous and polite.
- Be an upstander – advocate for the rights of others
- Embrace, value and celebrate diversity
- Show kindness toward others.
- Accept others and be fair to all
- Treat others as we wish to be treated
Responsibility – To demonstrate responsibility, we need to …
- Be transparent
- Think before we act.
- Make informed decisions.
- Be accountable for our actions.
- Admit mistakes and plan corrections.
Integrity – To exhibit integrity, we need to …
- Be trustworthy.
- Keep our promises.
- Do our own work.
- Know and do the right thing.
- Make the right choice even when not popular.
Citizenship – To exhibit good citizenship, we must …
- Respect the guiding principles of our country
- Respect authority/obey the law.
- Be an informed citizen.
- Volunteer within our community.
- Be environmentally responsible.
- Pursue life-long learning.
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