Students pass through the front doors of Dearborn High School on the first day of school in 2022. Dearborn Public Schools has spring orientations scheduled for students entering middle and high school next year and their parents.
DEARBORN — Looking ahead already to next school year, schools across Dearborn Public Schools are planning orientation events in the spring to meet students and parents.
Most district middle and high schools have scheduled events to welcome next year’s incoming students and their parents. These orientations help students and parents better understand their new school, including topics like scheduling, class expectations and extracurricular activities.
Eighth-graders and most fifth-graders from across the district, along with their parents, are invited to these orientations, even if those students are not currently enrolled in a Dearborn Public School. Parents who plan to transfer their child into the district may register them in the spring to allow time to schedule classes and to help the district ensure it has staffing and materials to welcome the students in the fall.
Kindergarten roundups for incoming elementary students will be held in April and May. More information on those will be provided later in February.
Generally, students need to live in the DPS district to attend a district school. Dearborn Schools Virtual K-12 accepts students in grades kindergarten through high school from anywhere in Wayne County. Learn more about enrolling in the district on the district’s Enrollment page. Families can see which school their child will attend by going to the district’s Attendance Boundaries page.
High school orientations for students and parents are set for:
• Dearborn High, 19501 Outer Drive, Feb. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Edsel Ford High, 20601 Rotunda, March 6 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
• Fordson High School, 13800 Ford Road, May 16 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
• Dearborn Virtual K-12, online only school, May 2 at 6 p.m. Use this Zoom link.
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.
Current eighth-graders also can apply to become part of one of three Henry Ford Early College programs. Those five-year high school and early college programs are open to any student in Wayne County. See the Early College website to learn more. The application deadline is March 1. The HFECs will hold orientation for admitted students and their parents later this spring.
Eight of the district’s nine middle schools also hold spring orientations for incoming sixth-graders and their parents. Those dates and times are:
• Bryant Middle, 460 N. Vernon, April 26 at 6 p.m.
• Dearborn Virtual K-12, May 1 at 6 p.m. on Zoom.
• Lowrey School, 6601 Jonathon, May 9 at 10 a.m.
• O.L. Smith Middle, 23851 Yale, May 9 at 6 p.m.
• STEM Middle (invited students and parents only), May 7 at 6 p.m. on Zoom.
• Stout Middle, 18500 Oakwood, May 21 at 5 p.m.
• Unis Middle, 7801 Maple, March 7 at 6 p.m. on Zoom.
• Woodworth Middle, 4951 Ternes, May 15 at 9:30 a.m.
Salina Intermediate houses students in grades four to eight, and so does not have a sixth-grade orientation.
“We realize that changing schools is a big transition for many students,” Supt. Glenn Maleyko said. “I encourage parents and students to attend the orientation for their child’s school to help ensure a positive start for a new school and new school year in August.”