Career Academies

A NAF Academy is a smaller learning community that focuses on a career theme and is integrated into students’ studies including their core curriculum courses. Each year a cohort of academy students takes a Career and Technical Education course aligned with the career theme, as well as one or more core classes together. Students complete project-based learning assignments that extend across their CTE and core classes. Students from the feeder pattern middle schools may apply to the appropriate academy in the 8th grade. This school-within-a-school model is a four-year commitment that begins in 9th grade and continues through 12th grade.

Each academy student participates in a variety of work-based learning activities such as job shadowing, career fairs, career-themed industry tours, and an internship. Academy students are prepared to participate in these experiences through their cohort academy courses. Each academy student is required to do an 80-120 hour internship. Local employers are engaged in the academy through participation on Academy Advisory Boards and work-based learning experiences.