High schools in the Metro Nashville Public School District have taken experiential learning to the next level, in an effort to better prepare students for success and productivity in college, career and life. Their approach is so different from the traditional brand of high school education that they’ve given their schools a new name: the Academies of Nashville.
Students at the Academies choose a course of study based on their career and academic aspirations, and then engage in a highly focused and personalized learning experience built around their chosen academic “theme.” They still tackle the basic subjects: math, science, English and social studies, but those subjects are taught within the context of their chosen field of interest.
Each Nashville academy has its own set of unique, career-oriented themes. For example, Glencliff High features The Ford Academy of Business & Innovation. Within this theme, students learn entrepreneurship and innovative arts and design, including web design. Glencliff also offers the Academy of Medical Science and Research, among several others.
Automotive Technology & Design is one of the many specialties at Antioch High, and this academy includes design communications and STEM technology. Hillsboro High features the popular Academy of International Business & Communication, which includes audio/visual production and global marketing and logistics. Overton’s Academy of Engineering includes urban agriculture and horticulture science. These are just a scant few of the options available to students across the city.
All Nashville 9th graders start in the Freshman Academy before choosing their theme for the 10th-12th grade years. A student can change academies, much as they might change their college major, at some point between their 10th and 11th grade year, if room is available.
Each academy introduces students to a multitude of career options and industry skills. The academies are closely aligned with the business community and post-secondary institutions in the Nashville area, which participate by contributing classroom speakers and enabling site visits, job shadowing and internships. Through a rigorous, focused learning plan such as those offered at the academies, students gain real-life, hands-on career experience, while preparing for college and networking with potential future employers.
A recent article in the Tennessean describes how one local business, the U.S. Community Credit Union, works with students at McGavock High School as part of the Academies of Nashville program. The credit union’s “Centsables” program teaches students skills such as managing a checkbook, saving for college expenses, developing a strong credit score, and becoming financially independent. The program has been so successful that the company now provides financial literacy education in six elementary schools and seven middle schools, in addition to McGavock High. The credit union also selects twenty students each year to become “student financial service representatives” and earn a paycheck as well as classroom credit.
Another company, Nashville Electric Service (NES), selected two aspiring engineers from Glencliff High, to be part of their Conexión Américas Escalera program, which works with young adults who will be first generation college students in their families. Carlos H. and Adiel A. had the opportunity to job shadow at NES, learning about the company’s substation controls, communication designs, system protection and energy distribution planning. They visited the system testing department and operations center. They were active participants in staff project meetings, helped compile information from protective relay sheets, and organized electrical drawings for storage. At the end of the week-long program, Carlos and Adiel had acquired the soft skillset required to succeed, along with an excellent work ethic.
For more on their experience, and to read many more stories from Academies of Nashville students, check out their Academy Blog.
For an overview of the program, with commentary from the students, check out the video on the Academies’ main page.
Hands-on, real-world learning is at the heart of Envision’s mission. Please share your input, thoughts and questions in our comment section.
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