- Academies of Anchorage
- Freshman Academy
What is Freshman Academy?
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The Academies of Anchorage are an innovative curriculum model that has been proven to increase graduation rates, better prepare students for college and the workforce, and to ensure all students have the same access to resources to help them succeed after graduation.
The program creates areas of career focus or “pathways” in all Anchorage high schools. High school students will choose the pathway that best fits their career interests and take electives related to that field over the course of their high school journey. Pathways include a variety of industries and career options including Business and Innovation, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ Planning and Infrastructure, Leadership in Law and Business, Industry and Construction, Culinary Arts and Welding. There are currently 26 general careers and 85 specialties within those pathways. Click here for a complete list of pathways at each high school.
The Academy model aligns with Portrait of a Graduate, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼’s vision for college, career and life-ready graduates. A successful °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ graduate will be a fully engaged learner, will be primed for success with career and life skills, will be a strong and confident communicator comfortable collaborating in a team environment, and will have a positive sense of self and feel a sense of purpose.
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The class of 2028 will be the first to take part in the Academies of Anchorage program. All freshman students will participate in a career expo, a college campus tour, and a one-semester Freshman Career Exploration course during the 2024/2025 school year. In addition, the Freshman Academy is intended to support student transition from middle school to high school. At the end of the school year, freshmen will make a pathway selection with the help of their advisor.
- Freshman Academy Career Exploration: A class that focuses on identifying interests, aptitudes and professional skills. The class will introduce students to professional opportunities and host guest speakers from various industries.
- College Campus Visits: All freshman students will visit a local college campus in order to provide them with exposure to academic opportunities beyond high school.
- Career Expo: All freshman will visit a local career expo in October and will have an opportunity to meet with professionals from more than 75 different organizations to learn more about their organizations, industries and career opportunities.
Please review the list of frequently asked questions below for more information:
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What happens during Freshman Academy?
Students will participate in multiple activities:
- Freshman Seminar focuses on helping students identify interests, aptitudes, and professional skills, through resources including the YouScience assessment tool.
- Career Exploration introduces students to professional opportunities and host guest speakers from various industries.
- Career Fair Participation gives the opportunity to discuss careers with local industry partners.
- Exploration of career pathways connected to interest and aptitude leads to the selection of an Academy pathway to explore through their remaining three years of high school.
- Pathway Declaration ceremony in the spring of the freshman year launches students
- Advanced Academics (Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate) prepares students to obtain industry credentials or receive dual enrollment credit through a college.
- College visits provide exposure to academic opportunities beyond high school.
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Who is included in Freshman Academy?
Students from the Class of 2028 will be the first to experience the high school redesign, beginning in the Fall of 2024. In future years, all incoming 9th-graders will be part of Freshman Academy.
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What is the first step in this process?
Beginning in 9th grade, students will participate in Freshman Academy, which is designed to welcome them to high school, provide a smaller learning community to connect with teachers and classmates, and help them select a career and academy pathway for Grades 10-12.
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When will students pick their academy pathway for Grades 10-12?
Students will pick their academy pathway during the second semester of their freshman year. They will work with their school counselor and the school's Academy Coach to make an individual plan of study for their high school coursework. The student will review the plan with advisors to make adjustments as necessary.
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Can my child change their academy if they discover a new interest?
Absolutely, the program is designed for exploration. If a student decides they want to shift paths, they may work with a counselor to switch their chosen academy one time during their high school career.
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How does this affect my child's current extracurricular activities?
The academies are structured to fit within the standard school day, allowing students to continue participating in their favorite activities.
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What about the costs? Are there extra fees involved?
There are no additional costs to families. The program is fully funded, ensuring all students have access to these opportunities.
The Academies are committed to equity and access for all students, and this will be at the forefront of the planning process as the student experiences for each academy are lined out in the coming year.
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The Academies of Anchorage transform the high school experience.
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Freshman Academy is the first step on that journey.
