Bridge Magazine has again recognized the success of Dearborn Public Schools. The district’s three traditional high schools and separate early college program were all named Academic State Champs earlier this month. All four schools ranked among the top 10 in their family-income categories for the number of students who go on to attend college.
Overall, Dearborn Public Schools had 80 percent of its 1,373 graduates in the report attend college within six months of graduating. The college-bound included 33 percent of graduates headed directly to a four-year university and 47 percent starting at a two-year college.
The state average was 63 percent of high school graduates enrolling in college within six months, according to the article.
In the district, Dearborn High School had the highest number of students headed on to college at 85 percent, followed closely by the Henry Ford Early College at 83 percent. Fordson High School, according to the report, had 81 percent of students headed to college, and Edsel Ford had 72 percent.
“Dearborn Public Schools has been able to push our graduation rate to 95 percent, and now to learn we are among the best in the state for getting our students to continue with post-secondary education is great news,” said Superintendent Glenn Maleyko. “Our motto is ‘Students First’, and we know that getting some type of degree or trade certification beyond high school leads to better income and more financial stability for our graduates.”
Bridge Magazine’s article also recognized the success of Dearborn’s students once in college.
“Dearborn’s low-income students are not only enrolling in college, they’re succeeding at a rate higher than the state average,” the magazine says. “Among economically disadvantaged students, 36 percent earn at least an associate’s degree within six years of high school, compared to 19 percent across Michigan; another 28 percent are still pursuing a degree six years after leaving high school, compared to 12 percent in Michigan as a whole.”
This is not the first time Bridge Magazine has recognized Dearborn Public Schools as Academic State Champs, even though the criteria changes from year to year.
Last year, Dearborn Public Schools was highlighted as showing the greatest academic growth for students over five years among large school districts. On average, Dearborn students progressed 5.7 years academically in five years of school from third grade to eighth grade.
In 2017, Dearborn, Edsel and Fordson high schools were on the top 10 lists of Academic State Champs. That comparison was based on ACT test scores and post-secondary enrollment and success. The lists were again divided by the number of low-income families in the schools.
“We are always glad to have our success recognized, but we are even happier to know that we are helping students grow into successful adults,” Maleyko said.