Academies: School Within a School

This article written by Kathy Baron caught my attention because I teach in a Academy.  I found many differences with this Academy and the one that I teach in however.  For one, the Academies being talked about were at a high school level - both in California. I teach in an elementary so there was not much I could compare about the two.  I do teach all subjects just like these students are subjected to, but with the schools in California, all subjects are integrated.  Secondly, the Academies are literally a school within a school.  Not all students who attend this high school will attend the Academy.  It is more or less the "advanced classes" a student may opt into taking. Again, at a 5th grade level, I can not offer these type of options to my students.

It was interesting to see the statistics of the Academies while comparing them to the high school.  For one, there was a higher attendance and graduation rate.  The drop out rate was much lower in the academy.  The GPA was pretty comparable however. 

Again, great read, but nothing like the Academy that I teach in.