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Signature Academies Prepare Students for College and
Future Careers
Reno, NV (Jan. 18, 2012) - In its quest to prepare students for college and the careers and industries of the future, the Washoe County School District is providing high school students with more academic choices that will give them a jumpstart on the knowledge they will need to be successful in the workforce of the 21st Century.
Eighth grade students preparing to enter high school can now apply for the District's new High School Signature Academies. These programs provide a rigorous and relevant curriculum that focus on some of the fastest growing career fields in the country and state of Nevada.
"We are committed to ensuring that all students graduate from high school ready for advanced educational opportunities and future careers. Students who participate in these programs will be inspired and challenged to reach their full potential. Our Signature Academies provide stimulating programs that will increase college readiness and are connected with careers and industries that are essential to the workforce of tomorrow, including health care, science and technology," Superintendent Heath Morrison said. "Not only will these programs better prepare our children for the future, but they will ensure we have a highly-educated workforce for a stable and vibrant economy."
The District is planning to open at least one Signature Academy at each WCSD comprehensive high school by 2015. The Global Studies Academy at McQueen High School and the Health Occupation Preparatory Education (HOPE) Academy at Reed High School are the two programs that are currently open. Seven additional Academies will open for the 2012-2013 school year, including:
• Performing Arts Center at Damonte Ranch High School
• Health Sciences Academy at Hug High School
• Success Through Applied Relevant Studies (STARS) Career & Technical Academy at Reed High School
• Red House Project, Digital Technologies Academy at Reno High School
• Cougar Academy of Media Arts and Communications at Spanish Springs High School
• Microsoft IT Academy of Excellence at Sparks High School
• Wooster Sustainable Resources Academy
The Signature Academies are open to all eighth grade students regardless of the school for which a student is zoned. If a student is accepted to a Signature Academy, they will receive a variance to attend the school where the Academy resides.
Director of Innovation Nita Losoponkul said the Signature Academies provide more choices to the high-quality high school options already offered by the District, including the International Baccalaureate program at Wooster High School, the Academy of Arts, Careers and Technology (AACT), and Truckee Meadows Community College High School.
"All of our optional high school programs are designed to ignite a passion within our students to ensure they are actively engaged in the learning process," she said.
During January 2012, Losoponkul will be visiting every middle school to speak with eighth grade students and parents about participating in one of the Signature Academies. Meetings started last week and will continue through Feb. 2.
Representatives from each of the Academies will be available to speak with students and parents at the school meetings. Signature Academy catalogs and applications will also be available. The deadline to apply to the Signature Academies is Feb. 10.
"Our High School Signature Academies provide amazing opportunities that will truly prepare our students for college and highly-skilled careers. With the application deadline nearing, it is very important that we go out and meet with our parents and students to let them know about these great new programs," WCSD Board President Ken Grein said.
More information, including the dates and times of each middle school meeting and question and answers for parents and students, can be found on the District's website at http://www.washoecountyschools.org/staff/high-school-signature-academy.
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About Washoe County School District: The Washoe County School District includes the Reno/Sparks metropolitan area, Incline Village, Gerlach, Empire and Wadsworth, Nevada. The District provides each of its 63,000 students with a superior education in a safe and challenging environment and is committed to graduate every child career and college ready.
For more information visit: www.washoecountyschools.org. Follow us on Twitter at WCSDTweet.
Washoe County School District
425 East Ninth Street
Reno, NV 89512
