Summary
Fordson High School is a large public high school in Dearborn, MI, serving 1,966 students in grades 9-12 within the Dearborn City School District, a community where the vast majority of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Fordson's most distinctive feature is what might be called the "graduation paradox." The school graduates an exceptional 96.1% of its students—far above the state average of 84%—and maintains a dropout rate of just 1.7%. This is a remarkable achievement for a school serving a high-poverty population, especially when compared to nearby Detroit schools like Cody High School, which graduates only 72.3% of students, or Detroit Leadership Academy High School, where chronic absenteeism exceeds 69%. However, those diplomas don't always translate to academic readiness. Only 18.9% of 11th graders are proficient in SAT math, and 38.7% in reading and writing. This gap suggests the school excels at keeping students engaged and on track to graduate, but struggles to move the needle on rigorous academic mastery.
Within its own district, Fordson sits in stark contrast to the selective Henry Ford Early College and Henry Ford Early CollegeAdvanced Manufacturing, which rank in the top 2% statewide—but those schools serve a self-selected, high-achieving subset of students. Fordson's English Language Learner population is a particular area of concern, ranking in the bottom 3rd percentile statewide. The school spends a substantial $17,342 per student, more than the selective magnets, yet proficiency rates remain low, especially in math, where scores actually decline from 10th to 11th grade. For parents, the takeaway is clear: Fordson provides a safe, structured environment where students stay in school and graduate, but families should be prepared to supplement academic support at home, particularly in math, to ensure college and career readiness.
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