Lee High School Academy of Engineering Nationally
Recognized as "Model" Academy
Jacksonville - The Robert E. Lee High School Engineering Academy, which is part of its Math, Science, and Engineering Academy Magnet, was recently given the status of “Model” by the National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC).
The National Career Academy Coalition is the recognized leader for collaborative support and sustainability of career academies, and provides the only national certification for career academies across the country. Nationally, Lee High is now one of three Model Engineering Academies and is the only one that focuses solely on engineering. In total there were 16 programs ranked as “Model” as of August 2009, and only a few schools in Florida hold this distinction. Robert E. Lee High School is the first academy in Duval County to be recognized as a Model academy.
“We are very excited and honored to receive this recognition said Lee High School principal, Denise Hall. “This status is a reflection of the hard work that our teachers and staff have been putting into this program and is indicative of the high caliber of students that have chosen this academy as their course of study.”
The NCAC career academy review process is based on the 10 National Standards of Practice introduced in 2004 in Washington, D.C. by a consortium of career academy organizations and endorsed by the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor. An academy requesting a review goes through a written self-assessment process and a site visit and is ranked as “Model,” “Certified” or “In Progress.”
Model academies adhere to rigorous national standards, and evaluators have found that these academies are far more likely to show positive results for student success. Model academies are able to use their status to garner additional funds and resources. As academies significantly multiply across the country and school districts and business partners want to learn how to design and implement academies, looking to Model academies becomes an answer.
About Career Academies
Career academies differ from traditional academic or career and technical education because they prepare high school students for both college and careers. Academies provide broad information about a field such as healthcare, finance, engineering, media or natural resources. They weave the themes into academic curricula that qualify students for admission to four-year colleges or universities.
Studies have found that students in career academies perform better in high school and are more likely to continue into post secondary education, compared to similar students in the same schools. Several leading organizations of career academies have agreed on a common standard for academies, and use the following parameters when describing a career academy: a small learning community comprised of a group of students within the larger high school who take classes together for at least two years, and are taught by a team of teachers from different disciplines; a college preparatory curriculum with a career theme, enabling students to see relationships among academic subjects, and their application to a broad field of work; and partnerships with employers, the community and local colleges to bring resources from outside the high school to improve student motivation and achievement.
Representatives from Lee High School will be present in Austin, Texas to accept the award in November 2010 at the NCAC National Conference.
Duval County Public Schools, the nation's 21st largest school district, operates 166 schools and serves approximately 123,000 students. The school district is committed to providing high quality educational opportunities that will inspire all students to acquire and use the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a global economy, and culturally diverse world.
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