Albany High School Four new academies. One great education.

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1 Albany High School Four new academies. One great education. Citizenship Discovery Innovation Leadership A guide to Albany High School s new magnet lottery January 1 Applications available January 31 Application deadline February enrollment lottery

2 Smaller learning communities... Smaller schools. Greater opportunities. Starting with the school year, Albany High School will be transformed into four smaller learning communities that will offer more demanding coursework and extra supports for all students. This academic restructuring is made possible by a $7.5 million federal grant and is the City School District of Albany s first major step in the ongoing process of re-energizing and rebuilding its flagship school. Dates to remember Jan. 3 First day to submit applications Jan. 31 Last day to submit applications Feb enrollment lottery The new academies will offer the same core classes in English, math, science and social studies. Electives will be grouped according to each academy s unique theme. However, all students will be able to choose electives in other academies regardless of their academy assignments. About 600 students will attend each academy, and each academy will be divided into four teams. Each academy also will have its own principal, theme coordinator and teams of teachers. The new academies are: Citizenship Academy (page 4) Discovery Academy (page 5) Innovation Academy (page 6) Leadership Academy (page 7) Electives focusing on effective communication, critical thinking and preparation for the global community. Electives focusing on communications and the arts. Electives focusing on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Electives focusing on civic and social responsibilities. How to apply for the new lottery All students will be enrolled through a lottery that will take place Friday, Feb. 11 (a lottery application is available in the centerfold of this booklet). Applications will be accepted throughout January; the deadline to turn them in is Monday, Jan. 31. On the application, students are asked to rank their academy preferences. While the student body of each academy will mirror that of the entire school, all efforts will be made to offer students their first or second option. It s easy to apply Just fill out the application included in this brochure please be sure to complete all sections carefully and mail or deliver it by Jan. 31 to: Central Registration Office 75 Watervliet Ave. Albany, NY

3 ... more opportunities for all students. Consistency and rigor throughout high school. The main goal in the transformation of Albany High School s academic structure is to motivate every student in an environment that challenges their intellect and nurtures their development. Dividing Albany High into four smaller learning communities will allow the school to provide the support and relationships that every student needs to succeed. Questions? Call Albany High School at , ext. 920 or 921, for more information. The process will begin even before students enter as freshmen. Incoming freshmen will have the opportunity to attend a week-long summer camp based on theme of their house. Additional summer programs also will help prepare eighth-grade graduates for high-school success. By September, each student will have an academic advisor that will follow the student s progress through senior year. Twice a month a teacher on each team will lead a freshman seminar to help students improve their study, note-taking, organizational and time-management skills. Each academy will provide the same core courses in math, English, science and social studies, as well as Health, Spanish 1 and Studio Art. Physical education, band, orchestra and chorus will include students from all four academies. All other elective courses will be grouped according to each academy s unique theme (see pages 4-7). However, no students will be limited in their choice of electives, with the option to choose from Albany High s full coursebook regardless of their academy assignment. All programs will be equally available to all students. All students will take the following core classes in their own academy: Math English Science Social Studies Electives Algebra English 9 Living Environment World History and Geography Health or AP World History Geometry English 10 Earth Science AP European History Spanish 1 Algebra 2/Trigonometry English 11 Chemistry AP U.S. History Studio Art World Literature Participation in Government/ Economics A full range of special-education and English-as-a-Second-Language services will be provided in all four academies. And while all students will be assigned to one of Albany High s four new academies, Abrookin Vocational-Technical Center will continue to 3

4 Smaller learning communities... Citizenship Academy FOCUSING ON EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, CRITICAL THINKING AND PREPARATION FOR THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY Electives offered in the Citizenship Academy and available to all Albany High School students will include advanced math courses, and all business and family and consumer science courses. Advanced Math Electives Career and Technical Education Classes Career Explorations Program Internship Areas Calculus with Precalculus Professional Cooking and Baking Accounting, Banking and Finance Calculus for college credit Culinary Arts Law and Criminal Justice Intermediate Algebra for college credit AP* Math AP* Statistics IB** Math Algebra II and Trigonometry *AP means Advanced Placement. AP classes are college-level courses that may result in college credit. **IB means classes in the International Baccalaureate program. IB is a worldwide organization that designs academically challenging education programs for students. Students can take a full IB curriculum leading to an IB diploma in addition to the high-school diploma, or select individual IB courses. IB diplomas are highly regarded by top colleges and universities. Summer opportunities for freshmen Modeled after the successful Project Lead the Way Gateway Academy offered each summer for middle-school students, the Citizenship Academy will provide a one-week, full-day summer enrichment camp for incoming freshmen. Students will develop and implement a servicelearning project that involves interaction with the community around them. They will also be introduced to the career and technical education offerings available in the academy. What s so special? When Albany High s magnet structure is fully implemented, Citizenship Academy will have a large-group instruction room designed to simulate the General Assembly Room at the United Nations. Students will use this room for international debates, multimedia presentations, guest presentations and research. 4

5 ... more opportunities for all students. Discovery Academy FOCUSING ON COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS Electives offered in the Discovery Academy and available to all Albany High School students will include advanced English courses, and all music and art classes. Studio Art will be available in all four academies. Advanced English Electives Career and Technical Education Classes Career Explorations Program Internship Areas AP* English Clothing and Textiles Communications Playwriting Housing and Environment Performing Arts IB** English Career and Financial Management Clothing Production Cosmetology *AP means Advanced Placement. AP classes are college-level courses that may result in college credit. **IB means classes in the International Baccalaureate program. IB is a worldwide organization that designs academically challenging education programs for students. Students can take a full IB curriculum leading to an IB diploma in addition to the high-school diploma, or select individual IB courses. IB diplomas are highly regarded by top colleges and universities. Summer opportunities for freshmen Discovery Academy will provide a one-week, full-day arts-based summer enrichment camp for incoming freshmen interested in exploring the role of communications in interpersonal relations. Students will learn active listening skills, gain a better understanding of body language, and role play various situations and scenes. What s so special? When Albany High s magnet structure is fully implemented, Discovery Academy will have a state-of-the-art music production facility as part of its large-group instruction room. Discovery Academy also will also make great use of Albany High s existing theater, music and art spaces. 5

6 Smaller learning communities... Innovation Academy FOCUSING ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM) Innovation Academy will be an expansion of Albany High School s unique Academy of Engineering (AOE), which also includes the Smart Scholars Early College High School partnership with Hudson Valley Community College. Electives offered in the Innovation Academy and available to all Albany High School students will include advanced science electives, all technology classes and all Project Lead the Way and AOE courses. Advanced Science Electives Career and Technical Education Classes Career Explorations Program Internship Areas Physics Woodworking Engineering Introduction to Medical Science Introduction to Nanoscale Science AP* Biology AP* Chemistry AP* Physics IB** Biology IB** Chemistry IB** Physics Production Manufacturing and Construction Basic Car Care Automotive Technology Transportation Systems Construction Technology Carpentry Basic and Advanced Electrical Technology Home Electronics/Theater Computer Networking/Information Technology *AP means Advanced Placement. AP classes are college-level courses that may result in college credit. **IB means classes in the International Baccalaureate program. IB is a worldwide organization that designs academically challenging education programs for students. Students can take a full IB curriculum leading to an IB diploma in addition to the high-school diploma, or select individual IB courses. IB diplomas are highly regarded by top colleges and universities. Summer opportunities for freshmen Innovation Academy will provide a one-week, full-day summer enrichment camp for incoming freshmen that will use a hands-on approach to creating robotics and rockets that demonstrate the integration of STEM concepts and real-life application. What s so special? When Albany High s magnet structure is fully implemented, Innovation Academy will feature a mock cleanroom, simulating the lab associated with the University at Albany s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. Cleanrooms are used in fields sensitive to environmental contamination, including semiconductor manufacturing, biotechnology and the life sciences. 6

7 ... more opportunities for all students. Leadership Academy FOCUSING ON CIVIC AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES Electives offered in the Leadership Academy and available to all Albany High School students will include advanced social studies electives and all foreign languages. Spanish 1 and Health will be offered in all four academies. Advanced Social Studies Electives Career and Technical Education Classes Career Explorations Program Internship Areas Anthropology for college credit Introduction to Health Services Health Sociology Health Occupations Education Psychology Africana Studies AP* Economics AP* Psychology IB** Theory of Knowledge IB** History of America Certified Nursing Assistant Emergency Medical Technician Early Childhood Education Adolescent Psychology *AP means Advanced Placement. AP classes are college-level courses that may result in college credit. **IB means classes in the International Baccalaureate program. IB is a worldwide organization that designs academically challenging education programs for students. Students can take a full IB curriculum leading to an IB diploma in addition to the high-school diploma, or select individual IB courses. IB diplomas are highly regarded by top colleges and universities. Summer opportunities for freshmen Leadership Academy will offer a one-week, full-day summer enrichment camp for incoming freshmen interested in developing their leadership and advocacy skills. What s so special? When Albany High s magnet structure is fully implemented, Leadership Academy will include a mock courtroom as its large-group instruction room, complete with a judge s bench, witness stand, jury box, counsel tables and seating for a courtroom audience. The room also will be equipped with a complex network of audio-visual and information technology. 7

8 U.S. Postage PAID Non-Profit Org. Albany, New York Permit #149 City School District of Albany Academy Park Albany, New York