Parents get crash course in JCHS academies

Jefferson City Public Schools (JCPS)
Jefferson City Public Schools (JCPS)

On Tuesday, eighth-grade students and parents will get a crash course on the new academy model and a chance to ask any questions of school officials and current high school students.

The academy night at Thomas Jefferson Middle School on Tuesday is open to any eighth-grade student and his or her family, including parochial students who are considering entering the district for high school. Lewis and Clark Middle School hosted academy night on Oct. 4 with higher attendance than last year, said Debbie Strope, academies liaison and business coordinator.

This school year is the first time high school students have three academy options instead of seven. Even though there are fewer academies to chose from, the academies themselves have broadened to include more fields, giving students diversified course options within their academy.

Students can chose from:

AETI: Agriculture, engineering, trade and industrial academy.

S3: Health, consumer and public services academy.

CAB: Communication, arts and business academy.

Traditional path.

The academies promote smaller learning communities, and it connects what is taught in school to how it is used in the workplaces, said district spokeswoman Amy Berendzen. The model brings in business partners for each academy so students can build contacts with local employers and get a real-world taste of the jobs in each field.

While the eighth-graders have had some exposure to the academies during a seventh-grade class that introduces it, the academy night at Thomas Jefferson Middle School gives families more information about what students can expect going into their ninth-grade year.

"It's a great event for families, and I think it's probably better to come in with a blank (mind)," Berendzen said. "Come in and listen to all the information and listen with an open mind."

Students need to pick which academy they'd like to be enrolled in before winter break, so it's a good opportunity to become more familiar with their options and talk to students currently in the academies, Strope said.

Those involved in the Project Lead the Way classes and Nichols Career Center will also be there to explain what each of those pathways are and the benefits of each program. Project Lead the Way was established in 1997 and is the nation's leading provider of K-12 STEM programs - the district offers classes in engineering, biomedical science and computer science.

Nichols Career Center offers 11 programs that jump-start students into entry-level jobs right out of high school.

Strope said it's still early in the year and she hasn't heard much feedback about the reorganization of the academies, but it gives students more flexibility with their schedule and a broader exposure to careers in each academy.

Berendzen said the transition has been pretty seamless, and the program overall is simplified.

One of the biggest changes is offering the traditional path that does not subscribe to any single academy but offers what people think of as the "traditional" high school experience. It's a good options for students who are undecided on what pathway they want to follow, she said.

It's important to note students can change academies each year, she said. They're not bound to their original decision.

Once students choose their pathway in December, counselors will meet one-on-one with each student to select ninth-grade classes, Strope said. The process is done early to adequately plan for the following year, making sure there are enough teachers for popular classes or enough students enrolled in a particular class.

For those interested in attending academy night, the program begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Thomas Jefferson Middle School.