The Exploratory Academy-Grade 10

The Exploratory Academy has been designed to further enhance the strong academic and social foundation set in the Freshman Academy for all students. An interdisciplinary approach will provide a connected, supportive and personalized learning environment. In addition, academies or smaller learning communities will also continue to ensure that students assimilate successfully into high school. The educational strategies and skills acquired by students during their freshman experience will be reinforced and refined as their academic knowledge increases throughout their sophomore year.

Typically a sophomore will continue to take many courses which will fulfill core requirements for their high school diploma including Math, Science, BluePrints Civics/Economics and English 2.  While continuing to provide students with a rigorous and relevant education in these core areas, this schedule allows for additional credits to be taken to fulfill the elective graduation requirement. Students will meet with their guidance counselor to review future plans. Guidance counselors, teachers, and parents play an important role in assisting students review available courses and choose courses to fulfill their aspirations.  Students are encouraged to choose courses which allow them to reach their future goals and/or explore areas of interest and talent.

In order to best prepare students for the Upper Forum, they will have the opportunity to take several courses and explore available programs that will be available to them as juniors and seniors. Many semester and quarter courses have been developed in order to give sophomores an opportunity to investigate specific academies and programs which will be available to them in the Upper Forum. In addition, several courses have been created which allow students to gain a better understanding of specific two year career and technical programs. The Exploratory Academy has been designed to ensure that students take advantage of opportunities and experiences which will allow them to make informed decisions regarding the selection of courses, programs, and academy as they enter the Upper Forum.