JD ACADEMIES

Juan Diego offers Four Distinct Academies: Academy of Sciences, Academy of Fine Arts, Academy of Liberal Arts, and AP Capstone. Requirements for the academies are listed below:

AP Capstone

Academy of Fine Arts

AP Capstone™ is an innovative diploma program from the College Board that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges. AP Capstone is built on the foundation of two AP® courses — AP Seminar and AP Research — and is designed to complement and enhance the in-depth, discipline-specific study experienced in other AP courses. Courses designated as “Capstone Core” are an integral part of the AP Capstone experience at Juan Diego. Courses designated as “Capstone Suggested” prepare students for the rigors of the Juan Diego AP Capstone program.
To receive the designation of an AP Capstone Graduate or AP Capstone Candidate at commencement, students must successfully complete the national exams for AP Seminar, AP Research, along with 4 additional AP courses of the student’s choosing.
In AP Seminar, students investigate real-world issues from multiple perspectives, gathering and analyzing information from various sources in order to develop credible and valid evidence-based arguments. In AP Research students cultivate the skills and discipline necessary to conduct independent research in order to produce and defend a scholarly academic thesis. AP Seminar is a prerequisite for AP Research. Students may not take AP Research without completing AP Seminar and all the required assessment components as they will not have developed the skills necessary to be successful in AP Research.

Juan Diego students may obtain a special Academy of Fine Arts designation on their student transcripts. The Academy of Fine Arts provides four areas of focus: Music, Visual Art, Dance, and Theatre. Each student will be assigned a mentor, based on their area of focus, to guide them through the process of completion. Students may enter the Academy of Fine Arts in either their freshman or sophomore year, and complete the following requirements to receive the Academy of Fine Arts designation:

Coursework: Students will complete one of three Fine Arts AP Courses (AP Music Theory, AP Art History, AP Studio Art) and 2 or more years of advanced fine arts classes or ensembles to be selected from the following: Advanced Art, Advanced Ceramics, Advanced Dance, Dance Company, Advanced Theatre, Wind Symphony, Percussion, String Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and Concert Choir. Students will also complete courses of study for each specific area of focus.
Extracurricular Participation: Students will complete the equivalent of three years of active participation in Fine Arts extracurricular activities. These activities may include theatre productions, art shows, dance concerts, and musical performances.
Participation in an accredited Fine Arts Festival: Students will qualify for and participate in one or more of the following as directed by the department mentor: Region/State solo and ensemble, All-state Band/Orchestra/Choir, Region/State Theatre, Utah Shakespeare Competition, University Dance Workshop, All-state Art Show.
Service: As a part of their required JDCHS service hours, the student will perform service related to the arts including but not limited to: tutoring, solo performance, and volunteer work within the community. All service work must be approved by the department mentor.
Academy of Fine Arts Final Project: Students will prepare and create a cumulative final project in coordination with their department mentor. As outlined by their mentor the project could include one of the following: solo music recital, dance recital/choreography, character thesis role, theatre technical design, student-directed one-act, or art show. Each final project will be supported by in-depth research to be presented to a committee.

Students wishing to receive Academy of Fine Arts designation on their transcripts must obtain faculty signatures for all of the above requirements by November 1st of their senior year.

Academy of Sciences

Juan Diego students may obtain a special Academy of Sciences designation on their student transcripts. Students may enter the Academy of Sciences track in either their freshman or sophomore year, and complete the following requirements to receive the Academy of Sciences honor:

Science Academy Independent Research: Students must complete a professional research project and present their research at a recognized science competition such as the Regeneron Science and Engineering Fairs, Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, Google Fair, or Siemens Competition.
Coursework: Students must take at least three AP-level courses in the STEM fields. These courses may be a combination of Science, Mathematics, and Technology. JDCHS currently offers 6 AP Science courses, 4 AP Mathematics courses, and 2 AP Technology courses.
Service and Extracurricular Activities: Students must demonstrate interest and commitment to science outside of the classroom. The JD Science department provides monthly Academy of Sciences activities, such as judging elementary science fairs, attending community science events, or engaging with school STEM clubs.

Students wishing to receive Academy of Sciences designation on their transcripts must obtain faculty signatures for all of the above requirements by the end of the fall semester of their senior year. At the Academic Awards ceremony of their Senior year, students meeting the Academy requirements will receive recognition in the form of a JDCHS Science Academy lab coat.

Academy of

Liberal Arts

Juan Diego students may obtain an Academy of Liberal Arts recognition.

Coursework: successful completion of a least four AP courses from at least two different disciplines (Humanities, Social Sciences, STEM)
Completion of the Senior Service Project
Completion of synthesis essay for current academic year. Topics change yearly with prompt and resources available October 1st each year.

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