Built on Detroit's West side in the late 1950s, the school was completed in Fall 1962. Ford was built to accommodate the student overflow from Mumford, Redford, and Cooley high schools as population increased in this area. When it first opened, Ford's north-side was a bare cinder-block wall. When it was removed a few years later, the school's classroom sections were connected to the auditorium and gym. Less than three years after the January 1955 ground breaking ceremony, Detroit's Henry Ford High School opened its doors to 9th and 10th grade students on September 5, 1957. The school was built on a site, which was part of a parcel of land known as Southfield Woods. The building cost was $2.275M. At that time Ford consisted mainly of classrooms and a cafeteria – there was no 11th or 12th grade until the fall of 1959. Ford had no gym, auditorium, or laboratory facilities. Its initial capacity was designed for 1,225 people. The initial enrollment was 1,541 students and 64 faculty. Construction of additional facilities were completed by the end of 1962.
Athletics
The Trojans won the school's first state title in 2016 when they captured the boys basketball state championship.
In popular culture
The school was featured in the 2011 Dan Rather report, "A National Disgrace." In the fall of 2010 there were 826 students appearing for the first day of school at Ford, while the previous year it had 1,300 students.
Ijnanya Alhamisi was a champion track woman in high school at Ford; she was first to the finish line in the 400-meter dash at the 1990 MHSAA finals. Ijnanya was also the MHSAA 400-meter silver medalist in 1991.
Mark Brisker, American-Israeli professional basketball player.
Fred Kotenko, Ralph & Russ Terrana, musicians who were founding members of The Sunliners; the group eventually became known as Rare Earth, of Motown Records fame.
Susan Lutzo, athlete, swam to an eighth-place finish in the 50-yard butterfly at the inaugural MHSAA Girls' Swimming and Diving Championships ; her result was the best by a DPSSAL swimmer at the groundbreaking event. Lutzo was also a two-time MHSAA championship qualifier in the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard individual medley.
Lenda Murray, champion female bodybuilder. As an eight-time winner of the Ms. Olympia title, Murray once reigned as the preeminent performer in her sport.
Ron Nightingale the only male swimmer from Ford High to make finals at the Michigan High School Athletic Association championships; Nightingale finished sixth in the 50-yard freestyle at the 1969 state meet.
Jeremy Orr, won back-to-back MHSAA titles in the 200-meter dash.
Cheryl Pruitt, won two state titles in the 400 meter dash; taking first place in her event at the 1985 and 1987 MHSAA track and field championships.
Darryl Ross, American Radio host. Host of “The Saturday Night House Party “ on WMNF radio in Tampa, Florida.
Larry VerBerg and Athleen Bowles, won individual state titles at the 1977 MHSAA track and field finals; VerBerg took first place in the 880-yard run, and Bowles sprinted her way to a gold medal in the 100-yard dash.
