FAQ

Interview with Academy Specialist:

What are the benefits of this style of learning?

A short explanation of the benefits of this style of learning is that students will find relevancy in

their coursework across all disciplines. Have you ever sat in a class and wondered why you have

to learn this? In a pure academy setting the teacher would be able to connect your learning

in any classroom to a career field. You would learn History or English through the lens of your career academy.

I liken career academies at a high school to colleges in a university. If you were to attend UT

as an engineering student you would be part of the Cockrell School of Engineering within

the University of Texas. Obviously, your engineering classes would be filled with engineering

students, primarily. But in your coursework you will also take your general studies, such as

English, History, etc. If you take these courses with other engineering students and the teacher

designs their curriculum around the lens of an engineer you would see the relevance of the

general education as they apply to your field of study.

You will also have interaction with industry professionals throughout your high school years.

They will either come to the school to speak to classes about their industry, students may

travel to the industry workplace to tour and observe this industry in action, and there may be

opportunities for the student to be placed in an internship with an industry partner. We have

already created many advisory committees that include industry partners, academy teachers,

administration, and students that meet several times a year to discuss the relevancy of our

coursework and the needs in the industry for our future graduates.

What ways does it help students prepare for college?

The rigor of the academy sequence courses themselves.

Quite a few of the courses you take as a sequence in each program of

study have the potential to earn college credit. There are articulation agreements in place

between RRISD and several colleges in our area. This means there is a smooth transition

between graduating from high school and attending college. A student has the potential to start

college as an upper level freshman or sophomore after passing many of our academy classes in

addition to completing other college level courses such as Advanced Placement or Dual Credit

courses.

Students who have taken a sequence of courses in a specific program of study will have a basic

understanding of the career field before entering college. Many courses may exempt them

from college coursework which will save the student time and money spent in this course at the

college level. Other courses will lay a good foundation for extended learning in college classes.

When applying for college a student may list their course work as part of their resume to show

their passion and preparation to be successful at the college level. Colleges are looking for

applicants who will complete a degree plan and not just someone with a good GPA.

What kind of tools dose this give students for their future?

Many of our sequence courses also prepare a student to enter the workplace directly from high

school or after completing a program at a technical college. At Cedar Ridge we have students

who complete their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification, OSHA training (Construction

Technology), ServSafe certification (National Restaurant Association), Adobe and Microsoft

certifications, QuickBooks certification, and many others. These tools may be used during or

after high school as well as college preparatory courses.

Where is Cedar Ridge High School and Round Rock ISD headed?

RRISD and Cedar Ridge are still working on creating model academies. We have an amazing

choice of courses in a large variety of program areas. We have a very active partnership with

industry professionals. Our biggest obstacle is scheduling students from a specific academy

into common core classes. Wouldn't it be great to sit in an English III class or Chemistry class

with students who were interested in the same general career area, such as Business or STEM?

The teacher would be able to assign work or choose topics from the career area as part of the

coursework. This is by far the toughest hurdle for us. Every year we are improving ways to tie

the relevancy of the general coursework to a student’s career interest area.

It is very exciting to be in a school district that focuses on preparing students for their future

college and career options.