About Us
Greetings! Welcome to Davis Aerospace Technical High School where we “take education to a higher altitude”. I am Nina Graves-Hicks, the proud Principal of Davis Aerospace Technical High School. It is with great pride that I welcome you to this website and our school.
Davis Aerospace Technical High School is a uniquely specialized Detroit Public School that services high school students in grades 9-12. In fact, it is one of a few schools of its kind in the entire United States and the only public school in the State of Michigan that has an approved Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) curriculum coupled with an in-house fleet of aircraft that are owned, operated, and serviced by its students and staff. Our Flight Training and Aviation Maintenance Programs are one of the most outstanding aspects of our school.
Even though Davis Aerospace has an Aviation and Aerospace industry focus, the school also provides a rigorous and challenging academic core curriculum in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and World Languages aligned with the Michigan Curriculum Frameworks and Benchmarks.
Our primary focus is to attract students who are interested and passionate about aviation and aerospace and may consider careers in these industries. We recognize however, that not all students attending the school will eventually work in aviation or aerospace, however these students will not be disadvantaged because it is considered that the academic and employability skills developed at Davis Aerospace are transferable to other industries and career pathways.
At Davis Aerospace, we strive to “take education to a higher altitude” by linking classroom instruction to “hands-on” learning on a daily basis. Our highly qualified staff members take pride in helping students understand and make these important connections in learning in both the academic and career technical areas. As a result, we are very proud to be recognized by the Skillman Foundation, Good Schools Making the Grade and to be voted “One of America’s Best High Schools” by U.S. News and World Reports.
At Davis Aerospace, we know that choosing the right school for your son or daughter is a major decision. I hope our website will serve as an useful resource in satisfying your initial interest and encouraging you to either contact the school for further information, or make an appointment for a visit during the day when it will be possible for us to demonstrate the facilities and educational opportunities available to all of our students.
Please enjoy browsing our website. If you have any questions or comments, please contact the school office for further information regarding any of our programs or for information pertaining to the application process. Thank you for your interest in Davis Aerospace Technical High School. We look forward to serving you further.
Sincerely,
Nina Graves-Hicks
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School History
The Detroit Board of Education established the Aero Mechanics High School in September of 1943. Its special purpose was to meet
the needs of secondary students who were interested in the field of aircraft mechanics. Aero Mechanics High School, the
only secondary school in Michigan to receive approval by the Department of Commerce and the Federal Aviation
Administration, granted high school diplomas as well as awarded FAA certificates.
The Aero Mechanics High School became the Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Vocational Technical Center in 1982. The new name
recognized Lieutenant General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., a Tuskegee Airman well known for his educational and professional
achievements. The name of the school was changed once again in 1986 to the Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Aerospace Technical High
School. This new name relects the potential and mission of the school in an expanding age of space and technology.
A flight training program that prepares students to get a private pilot's license was added in 1986.
Davis Aerospace Technical High School is one of a few similar schools across the United States that continues the tradition
of training aviation maintenance technicians. Davis graduates go into the field of aviation and/or continue their education
at the collegiate level. Davis graduates symbolize the ambition and excellence of the Davis mission to guide its students
into optimum careers particularly careers in the aerospace industry.
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Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.
General Benjamin O. Davis was born in Washington, D.C., on December 18, 1912. He graduated from Central High School
in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended the University of Chicago. He entered the United States Military Academy in 1932
and graduated in 1936 with a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the infantry.
In June 1937, after a year as Commander of an Infantry Company at Fort Benning, Georgia, he enrolled as a student at
the Infantry School, graduated a year later and assumed duties as a professor of military science at Tuskegee Institute
in Alabama. As a result of his exemplary record, General Davis entered Advanced Flying School at the Tuskegee Army Air
Air Base in 1941 and received his wings in 1942 as a command pilot.
As Commander of the 99th Fighter Squadron at Tuskegee in 1942, General Davis served active duty in North Africa and
later in Sicily, Italy. Upon returning to the United States in 1943, he assumed command of the 322nd Fighter Group
at Selfridge Air Field, Michigan. He eventually pursued advanced military training at the Air War College and later
completed training at the advanced jet fighter gunnery school at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. In addition to serving
as Commander of the 322nd Fighter Wing in Ohio, General Davis has command a number of miliatry units in such foreign
countries as Korea, Japan, Formosa, and Germany.
Throughout the course of his outstanding military career, General Davis received a number of miliatry decorations and
service awards, including the air Force and Army Distinguished Service Awards, the Silver Star, The Distinguished Flying
Cross, the National Defense Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal. Additionally, General Davis received
a number of distinguished foreign military awards from Korea, Vietnam, France, Liberia, China, The Phillipines, and
Thailand. He retired from active duty on February 1, 1970.
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Mission
Our Misison at Davis Aerospace Technical High School is to provide a rigorous academic curriculum that prepares our students for higher education, as well as, developing the technical skills and passion to pursue careers in the aviation and aerospace industry.
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Vision
Our vision at Davis Aerospace Technical High School is to ensure our graduates experience Succcess and are academically
and technically prepared to take advantage of choices in a changing global society.
Our parents experience Satisfaction due to the progress of their children. They work cooperatively with the school,
feel welcomed and valued as partners in the educational process.
Our staff experiences a sense of Accomplishment and is held in high esteem. They work collaboratively, are competent,
effective and committed to student achievement.
Our community takes Pride in Davis Aerospace Technical High School as an organization where everyone is committed to
quality education for all students and our community readily partners with us in a spirit of respect and support.
As we aspire to "take education to a higher altitude", our ultimate goal is to be acknowledged as a premier educational
institution highly regarded for both its academic and technical educational excellence.
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