9th Grade Academies

CAREER PREPAREDNESS

22153G1000

Grade Level: 9-12

This required, one-credit course prepares students with content knowledge and skills in the areas of career development and academic planning, computer skill application, and financial literacy. This course meets the 20 hour online experience requirement. This course does not count as one of the 3 courses in World Languages, CTE, or Fine Arts that are required.

This is a course that is offered virtually in addition to an in-person class. Students must complete the permission form and turn it in to their counselor. Teachers will communicate expectations regarding classwork and testing in the course syllabus. 

BUSINESS ACADEMY 1: BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS

12009G1001

Grade Level: 9-12

Prerequisite: None

Business Communication is an exciting introductory course for first-year Business Academy students that focuses on how professionals communicate in real-world settings. Students learn how professionals in all fields (not just business) work to achieve organizational goals. Students develop strong oral, written, and digital communication skills while exploring key topics such as business ethics, teamwork, leadership, and conflict resolution. Through hands-on, project-based learning, students use industry-standard word processing and presentation software to create professional documents and multimedia presentations. Enrollment in the course also makes students eligible to join the award-winning Hoover DECA chapter (optional), providing opportunities for leadership development, competition, and valuable college and career preparation.

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES- Academy Course 1

19251G1000

Grade Level: 9-12

A one-credit course that provides students with core knowledge and skills in the areas of marriage and family, parenting and caregiving, consumer sciences, apparel, housing, food and nutrition, and technology. A school-based laboratory is required for this course. This course is the foundation course for all other courses in this pathway. This course does not satisfy the Career Prep Requirement.

LAW ACADEMY 1: INTRODUCTION TO LAW

04099G10ae 

Grade Level: 9

This entry level course is designed to introduce students to the legal system of the United States and explore careers in the legal profession. 

AFJROTC I: A JOURNEY INTO AVIATION HISTORY- JROTC Course 1

09151G1000

Grade Level: 9-10

Prerequisite: None
This is the recommended first course for all new cadets. It is an aviation history course focusing on the development of flight throughout the centuries. It starts with ancient civilizations, then progresses through time to modern day. Throughout the course, there are readings, videos, hands-on activities, and in-text and student workbook exercises to guide in the reinforcement of the materials. Its accompanying course is Leadership I (LE-100). The LE-100 course introduces cadets to the AFJROTC program providing a basis for progression through the rest of the AFJROTC program while instilling elements of good citizenship, character, individual self-control, proper attitude, and respect and leadership principles. Wellness is the third component of the program teaching the importance of a lifelong approach to physical fitness, proper nutrition, and mental well-being.   AFJROTC cadets MUST adhere to organization’s standards for dress code, fitting standards, and personal grooming standards which include, but are not limited to: haircuts, no extreme hairstyles, no unnatural hair or nail colors, and clean shave in accordance with Air Force Instruction 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance.  Students are required to wear the clothing the organization provides, such as the unit’s polo shirt or any of the military-issued clothing options, one day each week for the entire school day, and the physical training clothing one day each week during their AFJROTC class, once the clothing items  have been issued to the student.

AFJROTC I class can count as the Beginning Kinesiology PE credit or a CTE credit. 

ENGINEERING ACADEMY 1 : FOUNDATIONS OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

21005G1000

Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12

Pre/Corequisite: Rising 9th grade students must have successfully completed Advanced 7th and Advanced 8th Math OR  Students must agree to take Geometry and Algebra 1 concurrently in 9th grade.  No pre/Corequisite applies to students in grades 10, 11, and 12. 

The Foundations course introduces students to the real work of engineers: solving user-focused problems, iterating designs, and bringing ideas to life. Students spend half of the year learning industry-standard CAD to model parts and create assemblies, skills that translate directly into careers and higher-level STEM courses. Students can attempt the SolidWorks CSWA certification, an industry credential that meets a College and Career Readiness Indicator (CCRI), a graduation requirement. 

Students lead hands-on projects that teach the complete Engineering Design Process: research, ideation, prototyping, and testing. 

Project Examples:

• Design your own LEGO piece in CAD and print it with a 3D printer. 

• Create,  build and race a sail car powered by wind.

• Bring to life (through coding) a Smart Toy Pet capable of interactive behavior. 

• Design and build a solar energy system.  

Reasons to take the course: 

• You are a rising 9th grader interested in exploring a STEM career direction. 

• You are a rising 10th, 11th, or 12th grader who has not taken an engineering class and wants to learn CAD, earn a CSWA certificate (a CRI option!), is considering engineering for college, or craves to try something new.  

• If you want to include Engineering Academy classes as one of your CCRIs (three consecutive CTE classes in the same focus area), you can take this class as a 9th or 10th grader.