Signature Programs
Our signature education programs provide our students with the tools and knowledge students need to succeed academically and beyond. Take a look at the different programs that set Academy High apart:
Headline Wednesday
On Wednesday's throughout the semester students across all grades at Academy High make a brief presentation to their peers. Students present the contents of article published within the last year that relates to a topic, person, figure, event, or concept they've encountered recently in one of their classes.
This program helps students increase their public speaking, storytelling, and discussion facilitation skills, all while connecting the classroom to the rest of the world.
Career Exploration
The Career Exploration program at Academy High connects the classroom to student’s future life goals through the development of self-exploration, career exploration, planning, and management skills necessary for their joy and success during and after high school. The program is made up of three different components:
Career Exploration Module
Career Exploration is a semester-long module that helps students articulate, navigate, and achieve their goals at Academy High and beyond. Emphases in the class have included:
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Self-Exploration Activities & Assessments
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Career Field & Career Path Exploration
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Resume & Cover Letter Writing
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Job Search & Mock Job Applications
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Peer-to-Peer Mock Interviews
Lunch and Learn Program
This series invites guest speakers from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences in their career field with students. A primary objective is to give students a lens through which to understand one person’s journey on a particular career path.
Speakers as part of this series have included college deans, lead dynamics engineers, digital communications managers, videographers, library directors, professors, non-profit leaders, real-estate brokers, small business owners, archivists, doctors, and computer scientists!
Job Shadowing and Internships
As part of their career exploration process, many Academy High students choose to pursue opportunities as shadows or interns with local businesses and organizations. Students work with faculty to identify shadowing or internship opportunities that speak to student’s career interests.
Previous internship hosts include local manufacturing firms, financial advisors, and veterinary clinics, as well as national publishers and non-profit organizations.
College Preparation
College Counseling
Academy High offers a four-year college counseling program that focuses on self-discovery and thoughtful decision-making. Starting in the freshman year, Ms. Lisa Micele, our college counseling consultant who has more than thirty years of experience in the industry, guides families through a process that includes workshops and conversations related to:
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creating a four-year college preparation plan
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building a comprehensive college list
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selecting majors, minors, and courses of study
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writing compelling college essays
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seeking letters of recommendation
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accessing and understanding financial aid, including the FAFSA
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navigating the application process, including the Common App
Standardized Testing
Practice Scholastic Aptitude Test
Academy High engages the Practice Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) to prepare students for standardized test taking. Freshman, sophomore, and junior students take the PSAT once each year during their studies at Academy High. The PSAT is an excellent opportunity to engage in a standardized test in a familiar environment before the college admission process begins.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Our curriculum creates deep, meaningful learning experiences that inspires students to pursue Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Due to all of our courses being college-preparatory in nature and rigorous by design, we do not offer AP classes. However, Academy High students are able to go above and beyond expectations to pursue testing as an expression of their commitment to the subject.
College and Culture Tour
In the early fall, students in the 10th and 11th grades take a day trip to visit different college campuses and explore cultural and historical sites. Academy High is excited to make this College and Culture Tour Program an annual trip for the sophomore and junior classes; this program offers an excellent opportunity for students to step outside of the local community, to bond with their peers, and to learn about different college contexts.
Senior Milestone Trip
A senior trip is a memorable event for high school students as they celebrate their impending graduation and the end of their academic journey as a class. The Senior Milestone Trip is an opportunity for seniors to travel and bond with their classmates before they embark on their individual paths. This trip takes place in the spring of the senior year (starting in the 2023-2024 school year).
Study Abroad
Our high school study abroad program is a unique opportunity for students to immerse themselves in a new culture, while also gaining valuable academic experience. Students have the opportunity to explore new cities and regions, try new foods, and make lifelong friendships with students from around the world. Our high school study abroad program is an unforgettable experience that will broaden students' horizons, enhance their cultural understanding, and prepare them for success in an increasingly interconnected world.
