Henry Ford Academy's Curriculum

The Academys curriculum is a college preparatory curriculum that prepares students to compete and succeed in a global economy. Based on the five developmental areas, Academic Content, Technology, Communication, Thinking & Learning, and Personal Development, the curriculum provides authentic hands-on learning experiences in many diverse learning environments. Rich in technology, our curriculum links students and teachers with information, mentors, scholars and peers throughout the world. Business and community partnerships provide unique and relevant resources which facilitate and expand the classroom experience. Teachers at the academy are certified. They are experienced professionals dedicated to helping all students reach their full potential in core subjects of language arts, social studies, foreign language, math and science, and in a broad range of electives. Certified physical education and special education instructors are on staff, as are student counselors. The academy staff also includes several part-time staff members, who work with teachers and administrative staff to enhance the curriculum.

The Senior Mastery Process

(SMP) was developed based on the belief that students must have opportunities to link what they are learning in school to the real world. This belief has been a strong conviction of the staff of Henry Ford Academy, the nations first charter school developed jointly by The Henry Ford, Ford Motor Company, and Wayne County Regional Educational Services Agency.

The Senior Mastery Process includes three sequential courses: Junior Workshop, Senior Practicum, and Senior Workshop. The process begins in the students junior year. Junior Workshop is a seminar designed to help students develop the focus, materials, skills and plan for completing the field experience and final research paper and assessment. There are four major components to Junior Workshop: Learning About Self; Learning About Careers; Learning Job Search Skills, Developing a Professional Portfolio. The course develops career awareness and helps students make informed career decisions and choices as they prepare for their field work.

The second part of the program is the Senior Practicum in which students complete seventy-five (75) hours of fieldwork over a ten-week period in a career area they have researched and identified as a possible future career. Students work with an Adult Partner in the workplace who provides meaningful learning opportunities for the student.

After successfully completing both the Junior Workshop and the Senior Practicum, the students take Senior Workshop. It is a ten-week course designed to support each students work on the creation of his/her final assessment product, writing of a substantive reflection paper and preparation for the Defense of the research findings.