• To prepare students for employment upon graduation and to prepare student for an advanced post secondary education program.

• To expose students to career opportunities in the field of health, public and private sectors of the Criminal Justice System and Public Service field of government.

• To provide opportunities to learn and participate in leadership experiences.

• To compare/contrast leadership opportunities in public, private, and military sectors.

• Provide instruction and practical experiences relating to the field of health science, the entire criminal justice system including law enforcement, the courts, probation and parole, and corrections including but not limited to mock trials, public service projects and internships.

• Provide guest speakers which represent a variety of careers represented within the academy

• Examine the characteristics of leaders

• Participate in a variety of community and school wide activities

• Participate in field experiences including, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, local government agencies, jails, detention centers, prisons, and the state and federal courts

• Identify various leadership styles and their situational appropriateness

• Establish internships to provide leadership, training, and exposure to employment opportunities

At Gables we have a long tradition of being a Mock Trial powerhouse in both district and state levels. Mock Trial is a competition in which students simulate a real trial. The trial concerns an official case that remains the same through the entire academic year. The case is usually criminal but on occasion may be civil. The case is entirely fictional, taking place in the state of Florida. Teams consist of six to ten members, but only six compete at any given time - 3 attorneys and 3 witnesses. These six people will go against six other people from a different high school. Teams must prepare both sides of the case (prosecution/plaintiff and defense) for every competition. This means that any given person could have two roles: one for each side of the case. At the district level teams compete against four other high schools. The teams with the best records move to the final round and the winner of the finals represents Miami-Dade County at the State level.

The U.S. Army’s JROTC program currently operates in more than 1,700 public and private high schools, military institutions, and correctional centers throughout the United States and overseas. Approximately 40% of JROTC programs are in inner city schools, serving a student population of 50% minorities. As JROTC students (Cadets) progress through the program, they experience opportunities to lead other Cadets. A major component of the JROTC leadership and citizenship program is female Cadets. Female Cadets make up 40% of the Cadet population. The JROTC faculty is led by nearly 4,000 instructors who are retired from active duty, reserve duty, or National Guard Army service. Instructors are trained and qualified in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act 2007 to teach and mentor approximately 314,000 JROTC Cadets annually.