Anonymous wrote:It's not required but it can be beneficial. I think the kids get emails about opportunities in the field, etc. and a smaller cohort of kids with the same interests. It looks good for colleges to have a focus and helps with a more focused look on resumes for internships. But if your child is not interested in the academy focuses or wants to take more electives outside the required academies it's completely fine not to pick one.

Is this the same for NEC schools?

It's not required but it can be beneficial. I think the kids get emails about opportunities in the field, etc. and a smaller cohort of kids with the same interests. It looks good for colleges to have a focus and helps with a more focused look on resumes for internships. But if your child is not interested in the academy focuses or wants to take more electives outside the required academies it's completely fine not to pick one.

An academy is essentially 3 sequential courses in a broad subject area, plus a project.

Anonymous wrote:At least recently - students at Blair pick their academies during ninth grade. They fill out surveys and interest forms, etc to help them decide which academy makes sense to them. It is not required to be in an academy, but if you are and complete the required classes/electives that fit into the academy and do a Capstone project you get recognition of it somewhere in your graduation documents.

Great, thanks!

At least recently - students at Blair pick their academies during ninth grade. They fill out surveys and interest forms, etc to help them decide which academy makes sense to them. It is not required to be in an academy, but if you are and complete the required classes/electives that fit into the academy and do a Capstone project you get recognition of it somewhere in your graduation documents.

Blair used to put freshmen into a Ninth Grade Academy, then have them choose one of the subject academies for 10th-12th. Is that no longer the case?

Wondering if anybody at Blair can recall?

From my understanding at the Blair open house, you do need to declare an academy, at what point, I don't know. But you don't need to actually do any work towards it. They didn't seem to take their academies very seriously but said they would work with students who demonstrate an interest in the subjects. That was my impression. It would probably be better if they were choice only.

Wheaton on the other hand, seemed very proud of their academies and consider them a selling point. The global studies academy had a great presentation at the open house. They were very enthusiastic about them.

I’ve wondered this about all the DCC schools. What if they’re assigned to a school, but aren’t interested in any of the academies? Is that required?

Does every non-magnet/CAP student at Blair need to be in an academy? When do they make this choice — in 8th grade while they are selecting courses for 9th, or in 9th grade when they are already students at Blair?

Also, for course selection, should the 3 alternative courses be electives?