FAQ

This page will attempt to address some of the most common questions about the career academy, but please feel free to contact Mr. Spencer Griffith at sgriffith@wcpss.net with any further questions or concerns.

What is the Academy of Hospitality, Tourism, & Sports Marketing?

The Academy of Hospitality, Tourism, & Sports Marketing is a small learning community within Broughton High School. It is designed as a four-year program able to accommodate 60 students in each grade level cohort. Students take a sequence of hospitality, tourism, and/or sports marketing courses over their four years, along with core courses (academic/honors/AP/IB) as a cohort and with integration of the career academy themes, where possible. In addition to the coursework, the student completes a series of work-based learning experiences including (but not limited to) networking, job shadowing, internship, and interview/resume workshops.

What requirements are there to join the Academy of Hospitality, Tourism, & Sports Marketing?

Under current school board policy, only students assigned to Broughton High School may apply for and be admitted into the academy. The career academy has an open and equitable application process that aims to produce cohorts that reflect the demographics of the Broughton student body. Students must be on the standard course of study and should have a strong work ethic, enjoy being with like-minded students in courses that emphasize teamwork and . Students are not able to be admitted into the academy after their freshman year.

What if I'm not sure if I want to major or work in hospitality, tourism, or sports marketing?

This is not unusual for a high school freshman! Although the career academy exposes students to the fields of hospitality, tourism, and sports marketing, the program helps students develop transferable skills (which will benefit them regardless of their career plans) through college and career advice from guest speakers, valuable internship and job shadowing experiences, resume and interview preparation workshops, and a focus on the soft skills employers are looking for in today's job applicants. Data suggests that current high school students will change jobs 15 to 20 times throughout their careers, so you never know how you will use the valuable skills and experiences that you will gain from the career academy.

Can students take honors or AP/IB level classes while in the academy?

Yes! You will still be eligible to take your core courses for honors credit (or AP/IB credit, when applicable) if desired. Most of the upper-level academy courses (including internship) are taught at an honors level as well; see the course sequence (on the curriculum page) to identify those courses. Students planning to take IB courses should make sure to communicate with Mr. Griffith and Dr. Brooks during the course registration period each year in order to help facilitate scheduling for the following year.

Can students still be part of another program (dance, band, orchestra, etc.) if they join the career academy?

Yes! The career academy electives will only fill 3 of the 32 classes you will take during high school (4 if you choose to utilize an internship period) and students may opt to take AP or IB core courses rather than the academy cohort classes, so there is plenty of flexibility when making your course selections. Please ensure you communicate with Mr. Griffith and other applicable program leaders when registering for classes in order to help facilitate proper scheduling of your courses each year.

Will participating in the career academy prevent students from participating in sports or other extracurricular activities?

No. In fact, we encourage participation in extracurricular activities in order to foster leadership skills and help students become more well-rounded. Our academy includes students that are members of performing arts ensembles and athletic teams as well as leaders in student government, clubs, and organizations outside of Broughton. While we may occasionally have academy activities after school or on non-school days, participation in those events is typically optional. Academy students with extensive athletic or other extracurricular commitments should meet with Mr. Griffith to discuss an appropriate time to complete job shadowing and internship requirements, such as during the off-season, summer, or an internship period.

How many students typically apply to the academy each year?

The number of applicants has increased for each of the last several years. We received over 100 applications for 60 seats in the freshman class for the 2022-23 school year.

Why is a lottery used to select students?

According to school board policy, a career academy should be homogeneous to the school's student population. A lottery is the most equitable method to achieve this. A student's grades, demonstrated interest in the career academy fields, the specifics of teacher recommendations, and/or how early an application is submitted (provided it is submitted before the deadline) will NOT factor into admittance.

Are there any costs associated with the academy?

Students occasionally may be asked to pay a small fee to participate in some optional field trips. Funding is available for students that may have difficulty paying in such situations - please contact Mr. Griffith for more information.

Can students drop out of the academy?

We typically have a waitlist for the academy and we don't fill spots after a cohort's freshmen year. For those reasons and in fairness to other students/families, we expect a student/family to seriously consider their decision to apply and enroll in the academy as we expect a four-year commitment to the program given the demand for opportunities to participate.

Wake County Public School System programs are offered without regard to race, sex, age, religion, national origin, citizenship, or disability.