Academies and Specialized Programs - High School
Advanced technical and specialized elective courses are available at the High School Academies for students interested in pursuing coursework in a variety of options related to career pathways.
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A high school academy is a center within an existing high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses that successfully integrate career and academic preparation.
Enrollments in the Academy elective course offerings will provide students with career and academic preparation for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Students enrolling in Academy elective courses will be provided with opportunities to participate in a variety of career experiences including shadowing, mentoring, and/or internships with local businesses.
Open House Details
Location | Date | Time |
---|---|---|
Chantilly Academy | January 19, 2023 Snow date: January 31, 2023 |
6:30 to 8 p.m. |
Edison Academy | February 4, 2023 Snow date: February 11, 2023 |
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
Fairfax Academy | February 7, 2023 Snow date: February 14, 2023 |
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. |
Falls Church Academy | January 18, 2023 (in person) January 26, 2023 (virtual - link available soon) |
6:30 to 8 p.m. |
Marshall Academy | January 25, 2023 Snow date: February 4, 2023 (4 to 6 p.m.) |
1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
West Potomac Academy | January 18, 2023 Snow date: January 19, 2023 |
6 to 8 p.m. |
Fairfax County School of Practical Nursing | TBD | TBD |
Fairfax County Firefighting Program | February 17, 2023 | 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. |
Spring Village Construction | February 4, 2023 and March 4, 2023 Snow date: February 11, 2023 |
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
Academy Locations
Services to the Community
Many Career and Technical Education courses offer curriculum-related services to the community. All services are performed by students in the pursuit of furthering their understanding and mastery of educational and industrial concepts. The chart below lists some typical services and their locations.
Service | Description | Locations |
---|---|---|
Automotive Technology | Oil changes, auto detailing, repairs | |
Automotive Collision | Dents and dings, small painting projects | |
Carpentry | Play houses, dog houses, picnic tables | |
Cosmetology | Haircut, color, and other services | |
Culinary Arts | Lunch served to faculty; contact for schedule | |
HVACR | Recharging of refrigerator/freezer compressors | |
Veterinary Sciences | Dog grooming |
Please call the school to inquire about availability, fees, and scheduling, as the offering and time to perform services directly correlates with instructional calendars.
Specialized Programs
In addition to courses offered at the six Academies, specialized programs for students with particular interests are available at community-based locations and at single school sites.
Classroom-on-the-Mall
The Classroom-on-the-Mall program is located at Fair Oaks Mall and provides instructional marketing and fashion marketing experiences.
Auto Dealership Program
The Auto Dealership Program, now available at 13 high schools, introduces students to operating a licensed auto dealership.
Practical Nursing
The Fairfax County School of Practical Nursing is located at Plum Center for Lifelong Learning and offers nursing classes to both secondary and postsecondary students.
Spring Village Residential Construction Site
Spring Village Residential Construction Site offers students an opportunity to construct single-family homes.
Firefighting
Firefighting I and Firefighting II are offered at the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Training Academy through a partnership with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. This program is open to high school seniors.
Health Informatics
Sponsored by the Claude Moore Foundation, FCPS and INOVA have partnered to bring a Health Informatics course to our Health and Medical Sciences Program. The course will be taught at the Falls Church Academy. Health Informatics is an in-demand field with opportunities for students interested in working in a healthcare environment utilizing computer hardware and/or computer software skills.
Career Experience Programs
Students have the opportunity to enhance their Career and Technical Education experiences through a variety of programs. Juniors and seniors enrolled in elective classes are eligible for these programs. Career experience programs include:
- Apprenticeship
- Client-centered
- School-based Courses
- Community Service
- Cooperative Education
- Internship
- Mentorship
- Job Shadowing
- School-based Enterprise
Client-centered School-based Courses
Sequenced high school courses set up as student-run businesses providing services within the lab at school. These courses are currently offered at numerous sites; some may require travel to another school or community site. (Offered through the Trade and Industrial program area.)
Community Service
Non paid career experience in a nonprofit organization that allows students to develop occupational skills. (May be offered to juniors and seniors in elective classes in any program area; refer to specific program area for further details.)
Cooperative Education
Planned and supervised on-the-job training with related classroom instruction in a Career and Technical Education program where the student receives both credit and wages and usually allows early release during the school day. (Offered through Business and Marketing classes.)
Internship
One-time, paid or non paid positions that last for a specific period of time in which students have an opportunity to work in a field that they think might be a career goal prior to leaving school. (May be offered to juniors and seniors in elective classes in any program area; refer to specific program area for further details.)
Mentorship
Informal, non paid, and short-term relationship between a student and a person in business, government, or a profession that enhances a student's career experience/exploration. (May be offered to juniors and seniors in elective classes in any program area; refer to specific program area for further details.)
Job Shadowing
An academically motivating educational activity that gives students a first-hand look at the world of work where students shadow an employer at their place of employment to gain a better understanding of the skills, experience, and education needed to achieve their dreams. (May be offered to juniors and seniors in elective classes in any program area; refer to specific program area for further details.)
School-based Enterprise
Individual or sequenced high school courses set up as actual student-run businesses outside the school setting (e.g., automotive dealership, TV production, etc). These programs are currently offered through the Marketing and Trade and Industrial program areas.
Career Experience Specialists
Each of the FCPS Academies is staffed with a Career Experience Specialist whose primary role is to connect students and teachers to career experiences and resources in the community which will broaden the learning experience for the student in the academy course.
Academy Career Experience Specialists are responsible for the organization and coordination of career experience programs. In addition, the Career Experience Specialist serves as the Academy’s business and community liaison.