Career Academies are high school based "schools-within-schools." This business-driven model incorporates a number of innovative features, including a family-like atmosphere, integration of academic and career- related curriculum, and involvement of employers in a number of roles. Career academies have had a positive impact on school performance, including attendance, credits, grades and graduation rates.

The Career Academy model features:

• College preparation academic coursework that is coordinated with a career focus.

• A small group of teachers who work as a team to plan and manage the program.

• A variety of motivational activities, including parental and business partner support, a well-developed reward structure, guest speakers, field trips, mentors, job shadowing, work site experiences, community service projects, advanced credit opportunities, and regular monitoring of progress with feedback to students.

• A focus that continues beyond high school and into college, technical training and work.

How to apply:

Career Academy applications for students from outside a school's attendance area must be submitted to the School Choice Office. The deadline to apply is May 13, 2011.

Download Special Transfer Option Application for High School Career Academy Programs

Applications received by the May 13 deadline are processed in the career academy lottery. Parents will be notified by mail in June of the lottery results.

Introduction

AVID is a fourth- through twelfth-grade system to prepare students in the academic middle for four-year college eligibility. It has a proven track record in bringing out the best in students, and in closing the achievement gap. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination.

The AVID Student

AVID targets students in the academic middle - B, C, and even D students - who have the desire to go to college and the willingness to work hard. These are students who are capable of completing rigorous curriculum but are falling short of their potential. Typically, they will be the first in their families to attend college, and many are from low-income or minority families. AVID pulls these students out of their unchallenging courses and puts them on the college track: acceleration instead of remediation.

The AVID Elective

Not only are students enrolled in their school's toughest classes, such as honors and Advanced Placement®, but also in the AVID elective. For one period a day, they learn organizational and study skills, work on critical thinking and asking probing questions, get academic help from peers and college tutors, and participate in enrichment and motivational activities that make college seem attainable. Their self-images improve, and they become academically successful leaders and role models for other students. 

 AFJROTC provides leadership training and an aerospace science program for high school students. Secondary school students who enroll in the AFJROTC program are offered a wide variety of curricular and extra-curricular activities. The program explores the historic and scientific aspects of aerospace technology and teaches high school students self-reliance, self-discipline and other characteristics found in good leaders. AFJROTC is open to 9th through 12th grade students who are citizens of the United States. The program is not an official recruiting tool for the military services and those students who participate in AFJROTC do not incur any obligation to the Air Force.

The objectives of the Air Force Junior ROTC program are to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship and life skills; promote community service; instill a sense of responsibility, character, and self-discipline through education and instruction in air and space fundamentals and the Air Force's core values: Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do.