Benefits for Students
Students who complete the IT Academy course of study will:
Earn career certifications in hardware/software equivalent to an entry-level job in IT OR earn 2 full college credits in programming
Participate in a paid, 120 hour internship the summer of their junior year in an IT-related company
Earn NAFTrack Certification, a credential which gives students preferential treatment in the hiring process and higher starting salaries for dozens of companies, including Xerox, Cisco, AT&T, Verizon, JP Morgan, Moody’s, and Hewlett Packard.
Course of Study
The IT Academy and IB Career Program together have the following course requirements
Students must pass all their classes necessary for graduation. Students will take IB level math, science, english, history, and foreign language.- In place of their elective classes, students will take classes on either the hardware/software certification track, or the programming track:
- Hardware/software track: Principles of IT, Computer Systems, Hardware/ software and computer operating systems
- Computer programming track: AP Computer Science Principles, AP Computer Science Java
- Personal and Professional Skills (PPS): A two-year course teaching students specific skills for workplace and college readiness, such as professional etiquette, writing, self-management, financial literacy, resume-writing, and interview skills
- Reflective Project: An extended writing project about an ethical dilemma in IT. Students work on this over the course of both years in their PPS class and at home
- Service Learning: Service work to the broader community, related to IT content if possible. Students plan their service work in PPS and engage in service in and out of school hours.
Questions about the program?
Parents and students make the choice about joining the academy as early as 10th grade. If you have questions about the program, contact the Academy Coordinator, Shane Donovan.