Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I just looked this. While there is some engineering math etc., most of it is stuff like cosmetology, auto repair, dog grooming. Not sure it's any substitute for T.J.

No one was claiming it as an alternative to TJ. The poster said her son had attended the engineering math academy and done quite well. It is a different curriculum than the standard HS curriculum. It appeared there were classes for Physical Therapy and Animal Science, as well - both good careers. It also appears that several of these programs get you college credit while in HS.

Not everyone is college bound, either. I think it is nice that they offer the vo tech-type classes, too. No one is saying if your kid goes to those schools, they will be forced into the academy classes. It is just another option.

Gear your child towards TJ if you want, but also know that these options are also available in the FCPS system.

I think this is well said, but with one mistake. Each Academy class its own individual class, like an elective. You can take one Academy class or several throughout high school, but you do not enroll in the Academy and get a separate diploma from the regular HS curriculum. The Academy classes are great and there are different types of classes at several high schools around the county. At my HS (Marshall), we have Chinese, Aerospace Engineering, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Hotel Marketing, etc. You can also take classes at other Academies and get free bus transportation. I think the Academies are an excellent way for students to explore careers they may be interested in without having to pay for the classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I just looked this. While there is some engineering math etc., most of it is stuff like cosmetology, auto repair, dog grooming. Not sure it's any substitute for T.J.

No one was claiming it as an alternative to TJ. The poster said her son had attended the engineering math academy and done quite well. It is a different curriculum than the standard HS curriculum. It appeared there were classes for Physical Therapy and Animal Science, as well - both good careers. It also appears that several of these programs get you college credit while in HS.

Not everyone is college bound, either. I think it is nice that they offer the vo tech-type classes, too. No one is saying if your kid goes to those schools, they will be forced into the academy classes. It is just another option.

Gear your child towards TJ if you want, but also know that these options are also available in the FCPS system.

Anonymous wrote:I second the poster who said that we need to have options for kids with different interests and different goals. I would love to see the academy options expand into more schools and to see the county do as good a job promoting them as they do for TJ.

Anonymous wrote:One bonus of FHS is that the FCPS "academy" classes are there. FHS houses most of the arts classes (and also chinese I think) Graphic Design, Musical Theatre, Dance, Fashion, Music Production, etc. Because of that it has a spectacular arts program if that is something your child may eventually be interested in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I just looked this. While there is some engineering math etc., most of it is stuff like cosmetology, auto repair, dog grooming. Not sure it's any substitute for T.J.

No one was claiming it as an alternative to TJ. The poster said her son had attended the engineering math academy and done quite well. It is a different curriculum than the standard HS curriculum. It appeared there were classes for Physical Therapy and Animal Science, as well - both good careers. It also appears that several of these programs get you college credit while in HS.

Not everyone is college bound, either. I think it is nice that they offer the vo tech-type classes, too. No one is saying if your kid goes to those schools, they will be forced into the academy classes. It is just another option.

Gear your child towards TJ if you want, but also know that these options are also available in the FCPS system.

Anonymous wrote:

I just looked this. While there is some engineering math etc., most of it is stuff like cosmetology, auto repair, dog grooming. Not sure it's any substitute for T.J.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One bonus of FHS is that the FCPS "academy" classes are there. FHS houses most of the arts classes (and also chinese I think) Graphic Design, Musical Theatre, Dance, Fashion, Music Production, etc. Because of that it has a spectacular arts program if that is something your child may eventually be interested in.

After the recent renovation I think it's a beautiful and well thoughtout space and I would send my child there in a heartbeat. Like other "mega schools" -- Robinson/Lake Braddock there is something to be said about how large a student body it has (I understand the other two have 7th and 8th, but just in terms of sheer number of students) But by being seperated by grades, and then teams it makes it much more do-able for freshman.

I agree - the academy classes in the FCPS high schools are the best kept secret around. My son left his base school (Centreville) to attend the Chantilly High School Engineering Academy and it rocked. He is graduating from college with a double major in Electrical engineering and Physics and going on to Cornell for Applied Physics. The academy was great for advanced engineering and physics. Fairfax High School has great arts "academy" classes. No matter what FCPS High School you are zoned for, your children can attend the academies if they finish their requirements the first two years of high school (and meet competitive standards...of course).


http://www.fcps.edu/ChantillyAcademy/Courses/Courses.html

Anonymous wrote:

+1, this sums it up