Henry Ford Academy—Alameda School for Art + Design is a public charter high school, located in downtown San Antonio, that is focused on arts education. Every student receives individualized attention, and the school is a caring place, but it’s also located on a university campus so students can integrate with the broader community.
Henry Ford Academy is accepting applications for for the current school year and is holding open enrollment through April 15, 2024 for the upcoming 2024–25 school year. We have put together a guide to help you learn more about Henry Ford Academy in San Antonio and take steps to enroll your student.
About Henry Ford Academy—Alameda School for Art + Design
Henry Ford Academy—Alameda School for Art + Design opened in 2009. Jessica Rae Sanchez, Superintendent/Principal of Henry Ford Academy: Alameda School for Art + Design, said that “art and design are where we hang our hat.” The arts are a way to get kids excited and get students working on cross-curricular projects. The school attracts the “artsy” students, and the faculty identify themselves as artists, but now that it’s a mature school, it also appeals to a variety of students, including students who are gender questioning, and those who didn’t fit in at a bigger campus and need a small school setting. The school strives to be accepting of all students.
Sanchez wants to dispel misconceptions the criteria for enrolling at Henry Ford Academy. It’s an open enrollment charter school, so it’s a public school, and there is no tuition. Applicants don’t have to submit a portfolio or memorize a monologue. The school is a welcoming environment; Sanchez invites students to apply and “find your niche, find your medium.” Sanchez herself did not have the opportunity to take art classes in high school, but as an adult she has taken up studying ceramics and has found joy in expressing herself.
To read more about Henry Ford Academy in the news, we recommend that you click on the articles linked at the bottom of this post. Also, we invite you to join the San Antonio Charter Moms discussion group on Facebook and ask questions; the group includes current Henry Ford Academy families who can comment with answers based on their own experiences.
Henry Ford Academy in San Antonio
Henry Ford Academy—Alameda School for Art + Design serves high school students in grades 9–12. Starting in August 2024, Henry Ford Academy will be located at the Baptist Temple Community Hub at 901 E. Drexel Ave., San Antonio, TX 78210 (map). (From 2019 to 2024, Henry Ford Academy was located at the UTSA Downtown Campus at 501 W. César E. Chávez Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78205 (map), and before that it was located at the Alameda Theatre, 318 W. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78205 (map).) The main phone number is 210-226-4031. As you can see from their 2023–24 calendar, they follow a traditional school year schedule. Henry Ford Academy earned an A rating on their most recent school report card and district report card.
You can find campus information about Henry Ford Academy (and many other schools of choice) on our page Guide to Charter Schools in San Antonio, including an interactive map.
How to Enroll
Families and students can apply online for enrollment at Henry Ford Academy. Open enrollment for the 2024–25 school year concluded on April 15, 2024. Families and students can still apply to be added to the waiting list and wait to be contacted when a seat becomes available.
In addition to the online application, families and students can receive a paper application by visiting the campus, picking one up at a community outreach event, or calling 210-419-2183 to request a copy by mail. Applicants can submit a paper application by email to ltorres@thealamedaschool.org, in person at the main office, or by mail.
Follow Henry Ford Academy—Alameda School for Art + Design on social media on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
In addition, please join the San Antonio Charter Moms discussion group on Facebook to post questions and search previous discussions about Henry Ford Academy.
Facts About Henry Ford Academy—Alameda School for Art + Design
Henry Ford Academy was part of a network of schools in three cities that were launched by the Henry Ford Learning Institute, with a goal of promoting design thinking in schools.
If you like what you have learned so far about Henry Ford Academy, we recommend that you apply for enrollment now. You are also welcome to join the San Antonio Charter Moms discussion group to learn more and interact with current Henry Ford Academy families.
Read More About Henry Ford Academy—Alameda School for Art + Design
- “New Murals Come to San Antonio,” Jessica Fuentes, Glasstire, August 29, 2023
- “New recreation area has opened underneath a downtown highway underpass,” San Antonio Express-News, Nora López, Aug 23, 2023
- “Henry Ford Academy graduate hopes to make it to Hollywood,” Sarah Acosta, KSAT, May 26, 2021
- “Henry Ford Academy great graduate hopes to help LGBTQ youth,” Sarah Acosta, KSAT, May 19, 2021
- “Downtown arts school welcomes back former superintendent, principal,” Jeannette E. Garcia, San Antonio Business Journal, October 27, 2020
- “Art remains focus of Henry Ford Academy’s virtual learning,” Jesse Degollado, KSAT, April 14, 2020
- “San Antonio arts high school, fleeing construction, will relocate to UTSA campus,” Ashley McBride, San Antonio Express-News, December 17, 2019
- “San Antonio’s top arts high school is moving to UTSA’s Downtown Campus,” UTSA Today, December 16, 2019
