Self-Assessment Rating: 4

Beginning with our youngest scholars, Pinecrest Academy Nevada - Cadence Campus (PAC) monitors student proficiency and growth by analyzing multiple layers of assessment data. State-mandated assessments, such as the MAP Reading Assessment and the reading, math, and science Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBAC) are given to students and the results are carefully tracked and analyzed to help determine system, school, grade-level, and individual student strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, PAC assesses all students at the beginning, middle, and end of the year using Curriculum Associates i-Ready online reading and mathematics diagnostic tools. These assessments provide critical and timely information to teachers about students' present levels to help drive instruction and improve student achievement. The i-Ready program also develops individualized learning pathways for students based on their personal diagnostic results. This data helps teachers differentiate instruction for our scholars and to set meaningful and attainable learning goals for them as well. In addition to diagnostic tools, critical analysis of core content testing data, including formative and summative assessments, is performed frequently to determine student mastery and strategize ways to improve instructional practice. Furthermore, teachers use performance-based assessments in ELA, math, and science to authentically measure the application of course standards. These performance-based assessments are complex, authentic, process/product-oriented, open-ended, and sometimes time-bound.

Since the doors opened in 2016, Pinecrest Academy of Nevada - Cadence Campus has established an expectation of high achievement and a tradition of excellence. We aim to be consistently on the forefront of innovative educational practices, utilizing the most current technology and teaching methodologies. Pinecrest truly attributes our success and rapid expansion to support from within the community.

Though many schools have a similar mission of college and career readiness, Pinecrest Cadence works toward achieving these outcomes in exceptional ways. For instance, when committing to “uniting the community”, Pinecrest Cadence goes beyond their own school community, families, and zip code, reaching out to leaders of industry and searching for best practices across the Las Vegas Valley. We realize that the success of our school is not enough; that sharing best practices despite zip codes or district labels is what will achieve educational outcomes for all of Nevada. This belief has led to partnerships with local colleges and universities, internships and mentorship programs with local businesses, and meeting with exceptional school leaders across the state lines to share best practices.

Pinecrest Academy is proud of the rigorous expectations that have been set in place for both our staff and our students, and how the community has rallied around our mission and vision. We truly believe that we are on the path to turning our learners of today into the leaders of tomorrow.

Pinecrest Academy of Nevada - Cadence Campus works vigorously to prepare students for both college and career pathways. Our STEM initiatives permeate every grade level from kindergarten through college coursework. This vertical alignment translates into students who are prepared to continue into the next level of their STEM education as they move from our elementary to secondary campuses and beyond. Currently, our early STEM programs are designed to build foundational skills in our youngest scholars. STEM Infused Units, Project Lead the Way Modules, and quality math and science instruction provide all of our students with the opportunity to see themselves as engineers, mathematicians, and scientists. At PAC, we strongly believe that students cannot be what they do not see; therefore, tying STEM instruction to potential career options is a critical component of our instructional delivery.

Once moving into middle school coursework, students continue with core instruction designed to building 21st Century critical thinking and communication skills. They are also provided opportunities to begin exploring speciality areas of STEM instruction through electives like Aviation Exploration, Computer Science and Applications (Formerly Computer Literacy), Computer Science Discoveries, and Medical Detectives. This preparation continues into high school with the introduction of our Career and Technical Education Program (CTE). Where students are provided the opportunity to achieve CTE College Credits for successfully completing a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program of study while still in high school. The college credit awarded is designed to give students a head start on their pathway towards completing requirements within an industry certification, certificate of achievement or an associate degree. CTE College Credit gives students the ability to minimize the repetition of similar coursework in college and save money. Credits are based on statewide articulation agreements established by each college for the CTE pathway that best aligns with the courses offered. See below for PAC's CTE programs.

Aviation Technology

• AV 100B - Aviation Orientation (3 CR)
• AV 110B - Private Pilot Ground School (4 CR)

Computer Science

• CIT 130 - Beginning Java (3 CR)
• IS 115 - Intro to Programming (3 CR)

Cybersecurity

• CIT 114B - IT Essentials (4CR)
• CF 117B - Computer Forensics (3 CR)
• CSEC 101B - Incident Handling & Response (3 CR)
• CIT 112B - Network + (3 CR)

Graphic Design

• GRC 101 - Intro to Graphic Communications (3 CR)
• GRC 103 - Intro to Computer Graphics (3 CR)

Pinecrest Academy teachers use common assessments across the system for all subject areas to ensure proper pacing and integrity and validity within our programs. In addition to common assessments the following assessments are including in the high school STEM programs to ensure rigorous programs:

• CERT ACT practice testing
• ACT
• CTE Industry Certifications
  • A+ Certification
  • Network+ Certification
  • Security+ Certification
• CTE Culmination Tests
  • End of Program Content Assessment
  • Workplace Readiness Assessment
• Dual Enrollment Accuplacer Testing

Pinecrest Academy of Nevada truly stands by its mission to unite the community to prepare students for college and career. This had led to some treasured partnerships, including:

• City of Henderson hosts our students to tour their departments and learn about various jobs available in the public sector. We are currently establishing internship opportunities for the upcoming school year.
• Cyber-Patriots provide elements of our cyber-security curriculum for free and sponsor our female cyber-security competition teams for the national competition.
• Tronox has sponsored the start up of a robotics programs.
• State-sponsored grants have helped to build out industry certifications within cybersecurity, computer science, and aviation classes.
• 702 Helicopters sponsored textbooks for the aviation program and provides reduced flight instruction for students who qualify through our aviation program.
• Cactus Aviation provides reduced rate flying experiences to our students for fixed-wing aviation.
• Women in Aviation and Girls in Aviation partner with Pinecrest in events throughout each year which promote girls in STEM related aviation careers (ex: National Girls in Aviation day).
• Civil Air Patrol partners with the aviation program as mentors as well as providing guest speakers to the classes.
• Members of the technician teams from the SANDS corporations partner with the cyber-security classes and teams to serve as mentors and guest speakers.
• Intellatek currently provides IT mentors to our secondary students. Next school year, they will be providing workplace readiness internships for our students.
• STEMfinity, an organization who facilitated the majority of Pinecrest teachers becoming STEM certified. STEMfinity also sponsored the elementary STEM lab for the school by providing $25,000 worth of STEM materials (ex: build your own computers, 3D printers, Maker Spaces and more).
• The University of Las Vegas Nevada, College of Southern Nevada, and Nevada State College, who have all partnered with Pinecrest in student teacher pipelines, dual-credit, CTE offerings, etc.
• Junior Achievement Network, an organization that provides financial literacy curriculum culminating in the Finance Park experience.

Pinecrest is also proud to share accomplishments such as national accreditation earned through AdvancEd, Gold status in the Las Vegas Review Journal’s “Best of Las Vegas” in the areas of Best Elementary/Middle/Charter school categories, and a 5-star school rating in elementary and middle school.

• Investigate normed tools for assessing STEM content knowledge in order to collect more frequent and consistent data on student strengths and weaknesses in regard to STEM readiness