Great Revelations, located at 6400 Miller Rd. will be enrolling pre-K-12th grade students from Feb. 1 through March 15.

DEARBORN — A new non-profit Islamic academic institution that has been in the works for the last three years is gearing up for its grand opening later this year. 

Great Revelations Academy, located at 6400 Miller Road, will be enrolling students from pre-K to 12th grade between Feb. 1 and March 15 on a first-come-first-served basis.

The two-story, 75,000 square foot facility, located next door to the Bint Jebail Cultural Center, is equipped with 24 classrooms and the latest state-of-the-art technology that will help enhance education at the facility.

One of the founders of the institution, Fouad Baydoun, told The Arab American News that the academy did not inquire any bank loans and established itself through donations from community members. The property has already been paid off in full, which means tuition costs will be lower than expected. 

“It makes it all the more better for our kids to receive a high quality education for less money,” Baydoun said.  “The cost might be cheaper, but the expectations on this school will be high. We are emphasizing on that both academically and morally.” 

Tuition is expected to run under $5,000 and the facility is aiming to attract 600-700 students from Dearborn and neighboring cities when it begins its first full school year in September.

Baydoun hopes to have already established the center with programs and extra-curricular activities for children before the school year begins. The academy is aiming to hire around 50 certified and qualified staff members to assist in the school’s daily operations. 

“We are working on having the most qualified faculty in order to create a one-on-one learning environment for our kids,” Baydoun said.  “The education will include a great curriculum for elementary, middle school and high school students that will instill both academic education and moral values into their daily lives.”

Each classroom will include a private bathroom, WI-FI, a digital projector and a digital camera.

Great Revelations also has the approval from both halves of the Khums, Sadah and IMAM. Khums is a form of mandated alms in Shia’ Islam. It amounts to 20 percent of the yearly surplus of a household income after all expenses are discounted. Both halves have authorized Great Revelations to collect money for charity and use it to operate the facility.

Baydoun stressed that the organization is a non-profit entity that has been granted 501c3 tax exemption status. Charity work will be a large component of the institution’s model, as assistance for orphans will also be provided routinely.

Along with Islamic and Arabic teachings, students will receive a standard education that will include college prep courses,  tutoring and extra-curricular sporting activities. 

Baydoun said the academy is also on track to incorporating an International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum.  

The academy will also partner with the Dearborn Board of Education and local colleges for students to have opportunities to receive college credits while obtaining an education at Great Revelations.  Graduates will obtain a nationally recognized diploma. 

Students will certainly be comfortable while attending Great Revelations, as classrooms are large and come equipped with a private bathroom, wi-fi, computers, a digital projector and digital cameras that can be accessed by parents through the Internet. 

Baydoun said the school will emphasize parental involvement, as they will be given tools to help them stay in the loop on what their children are learning in class. 

When students are not in the classroom, they are able to utilize other areas of the facility. The school includes a nurse’s office, a social worker’s office, a lunchroom, a kitchen, a computer lab, library, science lab and a gymnasium. Outside, students can enjoy free time on the playground. 

The academy also houses a hall, which could accommodate up to 2,000 attendees. The facility’s parking lot can fit more than 600 vehicles and includes entrances off of both Miller Rd and Haggerty Street. 

Baydoun said he’s hoping the hall will host fundraising dinners, along with Ramadan and Ashura events, open to the  public.

The Dearborn and Dearborn Heights area is already home to several Islamic institutions that offer similar academic curriculums. However, Baydoun said there’s always room for more facilities to establish a presence without having to compete with one another. 

“Statistic show that there are 14,000 Muslim students in the area of Dearborn and Dearborn Heights,” Baydoun said. “We honestly need at least seven or eight of these facilities for the kids in this community. Our goal is not to compete with any other establishment, but to assist one another. The more institutions there are like this, the more we can implement stronger morals, values and faith in our community.” 

Although the school is on the east side of Dearborn, it aims to attract students from outside the city as well. Students who live in Dearborn Heights will be offered busing to and from school on a daily basis. 

Parents who are interested in learning more about the school and the facility can call 313.254.4504 or 313.333.8899. A website for the school and facility is also already up and running at www.greatrevelations.org. 

Baydoun is also offering tours to parents who are interested in seeing the facility. Certified and qualified individuals who are interested in applying at the school can also do so by calling, or emailing info@greatrevelations.org.