WCHS Academies
Beginning with the class of 2021 WCHS is implementing an academy based curriculum for all students.
This is an approach which has been very successful in schools across the country. Below is information
relative to the academies and how it will be implemented within our school:
What is an academy?
An academy is a school within a school. It is similar to a team teaching approach. Students choose a
career focus area and are placed into an academy based upon their chosen career/ technical classes.
Academic teachers, career/technical teachers, principals, and school counselors are assigned to a
specific academy. All students within an academy have the same academic and career/technical teachers.
How many academies will be in place at WCHS?
There will be four academies:
- Architecture, Culinary, and Creative Arts
- Automotive, Construction, and Advanced Manufacturing
- Biological Sciences
- Business, Law, and Education
What is a pathway?
A pathway is a series of classes taken within a specific academy. All students are required to take three
classes in a specific pathway in order to graduate.
What are the pathways within each academy?
I. Architecture. Culinary, and Creative Arts
a. Architectural Design
b. Culinary Arts
c. Creative Arts
II. Automotive. Construction, and. Advanced Manufacturing
a. Structural Systems (Construction)
b. Automotive Collision Repair
c. Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair
d. Advanced Manufacturing
III. Biological Sciences
a. Horticulture Science
b. Veterinary and Animal Science
c. Nursing Services
IV. Business. Law, and. Education
a. Early Childhood Education Careers
b. Marketing and Management
c. Office Management
d. Criminal Justice
How do students choose an academy and a pathway?
9th graders are all enrolled in a career exploration course. In this course the academies are reviewed
and students are taken on a tour of the career/technical classrooms. 9th graders were asked to
complete a form which ranked their preference for an academy and specific pathway of courses.
Students are placed in academies based upon the preferences that they chose.
Are all students given the opportunity to take Honors, AP, and/or Dual Enrollment courses?
Yes, all students are provided the opportunity to take Honors, AP, and/or Dual Enrollment courses.
What elective are students able to enroll in?
All students may enroll in electives that are considered global electives across the curriculum. These
include all Honors, AP, Dual Enrollment, foreign language, ROTC, numerous social studies classes, and
numerous fine arts courses. A list of current global class offerings can be viewed on the WCHS website.
Career and technical classes are limited to their respective academies.
What if a student changes their mind and wants to change their academy or pathway?
Students are given the opportunity to request a change in either their academy or pathway during
registration each spring. Deadlines and details are provided to students. Students are placed on a
waiting list and changes are made based upon availability.
As educators we are very excited about the possibilities that this format will allow for our students.
Teaching as teams will allow us greater communication across disciplines and help us to gain a better
understanding of each of our students.