Career academies are small learning communities or schools-within-schools built around a road-based career theme, rather than a specific occupation. Several themes include construction, engineering, communications, technology, health and performing arts. Dramatically different from traditional vocational training programs, career academies introduce students to all aspects of an industry to better prepare students for postsecondary learning and to introduce them to a wide spectrum of career options. Career academies consist of the following three standards: 1. A small learning community that comprises a group of students within the larger high school who take classes together for at least two years; 2. A college preparatory curriculum with a career theme to enable students to understand relationships between academics and real-world applications; 3. Partnerships with employers, the community, and local colleges, bringing resources from outside the high school, both financial and otherwise, to improve student motivation and achievement.
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