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Beyond the Classroom

Academy High offers an enriching high school experience that extends far beyond the classroom. Depending on a student’s interests, they may pursue a community leadership opportunity, an independent study, an internship or job shadowing experience, or a college class. These experiences help students build connections, learn new skills, and gain a deeper understanding of wide ranging areas and topics.
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Community Leadership Opportunities

Academy High students are involved in many initiatives that provide valuable leadership experiences and help enhance both our school and local communities. Some examples of ways that students develop their leadership skills are through:

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  • Student-Led Clubs

  • Student Council

  • The Makerspace

  • Rock Band and Jazz Band

  • Admissions Ambassadors

  • Internal and External Events

  • Service and Volunteer Projects

Independent Study Program

This innovative and flexible educational initiative empowers students to earn credit while exploring their interests and developing new skill sets. Students choose a topic of inquiry with the support of a faculty member, who mentors students in designing and carrying out the study. Recent topics of inquiry include:

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  • Creative Writing

  • Psychology

  • Economics

  • Holocaust Education

  • Sewing

  • Bioengineering

  • Healthcare Management

  • Film Studies

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  • Aerospace Engineering

  • Elections

  • Music History & Appreciation

  • AP Spanish Preparation

  • American Sign Language

  • Swedish

  • German

  • French

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Internships and Job Shadowing

Whether students are looking to gain hands-on experience, explore potential career paths, or simply try something new, this program has something for everyone. Students are able to pursue internships or job shadowing experience either as an enrichment opportunity or receive credit through an independent study. Students have had the opportunity to intern or shadow in a variety of organizations, including:
 

  • Curtis Road Veterinary Clinic

  • United Way of Champaign County

  • Chesser Financial

  • Surface 51

  • Developmental Psychology Lab

  • PowerWorld

  • Siebel Center for Design

  • Littelfuse

  • Walgreens

  • Intersport

  • Granular, Inc.

  • The News-Gazette

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College Coursework

College classes can be an important tool for many students looking to advance their studies or get a feel for what college is like. These can be taken online or in person, in some cases for both high school and college credit. Some examples of classes that our students have taken through the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Parkland College are:

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  • Entrepreneurship

  • Microeconomics

  • Calculus

  • Art History

  • English Composition

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