A. J. Moore Academy

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A.J. Moore Academy Magnet High School
Moore for your future!
Location
500 N.University Parks Drive Waco, TX 76701
USA
Information
School district Waco ISD
Affiliation(s) 2008-2009 Professional Development School
Principal Dr. Debra Bishop
Staff 70
Students 688
Faculty 56
Type Public Magnet
Grades 9-12
Mascot Bulldog
Color(s) Blue, White, Black
Homepage A.J. Moore Website

Alfred James Moore Academy (more commonly referred to as A.J. Moore Academy) is a magnet high school in the Waco ISD district in Waco, TX. A.J. Moore is designed to prepare students for success in post secondary education and in the workplace. Students are prepared to excel academically, physically and socially. Special emphasis is placed on business, entrepreneurship, engineering, technology and post secondary education.

Contents

[edit] History

The school is named after Professor A. J. Moore, the first principal and first African-American principal of an all (later segregated) black school in Waco.

A. J. Moore Academy was formerly known as Jefferson-Moore High School.

In 1986, three Waco High Schools (Jefferson Moore High School, Waco High School, and Richfield High School) were consolidated. That same year, Jefferson-Moore High School and Waco High School converged. Richfield High School, formerly located on Rich Field (a former Waco Army Base located on 42nd and New Road in Waco) was renamed Waco High School.

The building that housed the defunct Jefferson-Moore High School was renamed the Waco 9th Grade Center in 1988. In 1997, Waco ISD chartered A.J. Moore Academy. A. J. Moore Academy was slated to be the premiere magnet high school in the Waco Independent School District.

A. J. Moore Academy began enrollment as a developing magnet high school in 1997. Each year after that, the school added the next grade level to curriculum. In 2001, A. J. Moore Academy gave diplomas to its first graduating class.

The Class of 2008 will be A. J. Moore Academy's eighth graduating class.

[edit] Alma Mater

The original A. J. Moore Academy Alma Mater was written by Cliff DuVall (Social Studies Teacher) and David Middlebrook (Music/Band Teacher) in 2000.

The lyrics:

"Oh I never will forget you, dear old school beside the river. The knowledge that you pass to me will live in me forever, and the memories of your hallways will remain forever true; A. J. Moore: black, white and blue. A. J. Moore, we love you. A. J. Moore, we love you."

It was re-written in 2004 to the version heard at commencement ceremonies.

[edit] Enrollment

Because it is a magnet school,anyone can attend AJ Moore Academy regardless of city limits or school boundary lines. Students that reside in the Waco Independent School District must apply to be accepted for enrollment into the school. Previously, students who wished to join one of the then four academies of AJ Moore had to be interviewed to be accepted. However, since the academies have been expanded to seven, every student is admitted into an academy.

[edit] Extracurricular Activities: The Bulldog Battalion

The Bulldog Battalion is AJ Moore's Honor Unit JROTC program.

[edit] Curriculum

At A.J. Moore, engineering/technology and business and entrepreneurship programs include regular and advanced high school courses with an emphasis on practical applications. Students participate in internships as part of their studies.

Technical systems classes expose students to different careers in biomedicine, technology, computer assisted design, aerodynamics and audio/video production. Information technology, electronics and engineering are based on state of the art science and technology programs. Video conferencing is used to provide unique course offerings.

After the tenth grade year dual credit, articulated and advanced placement courses help students jump-start their college careers. Business skills have been infused into the rich curriculum, according to design from community business partners.

Co-curricular Programs Chess Club Choir Jazz Band Literary Club National Honor Society Steel Drum Band Robotics Club Volleyball JROTC The United States Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program mission is to make students better citizens. Each student participates in the leadership, education and training (LET) curriculum.

Students are given opportunities to participate with local units in competitions which include Annual Drill Team Color Guard and Orienteering.

[edit] Special Programs

A.J. Moore was chosen by the National Academy Foundation to be one of the twelve pilot sites in the US for The Academy of Information Technology. Students enrolled in this program participate in a four-year information technology oriented sequence of courses combined with their core curriculum classes. The Academy of Finance, another NAF sponsored academy provides students with 4 years of real world study in the field of finance.

Dual Credit Junior and senior students may earn both high school and college credits by taking and successfully completing approved college courses. Students must obtain permission from the counselor or school principal to participate at local colleges and universities. The Athens Academy The Athens Academy, a comprehensive college preparatory program, prepares students to enter some of the most competitive universities in the country.

Students take challenging course work, appropriate co curricular activities and receive guidance and counseling to help them enter the college of their choice. Athens classes are open to all students. Students graduating with an Athens Seal must meet all requirements for the Texas Distinguished Achievement program seal and take a minimum of ten Athens courses.

Advanced Placement (AP) classes Students can earn college credit by taking Advanced Placement tests and scoring a 3 or higher on AP tests. These College Board tests cover material taught in AP classes. AP classes offered at A.J. Moore include English 3 Language/composition, English 4 Literature/composition, Calculus AB, US History, Government, Economics, Physics, and Chemistry.

[edit] Academies

A.J. Moore Academy is known for being one of the 12 National Academy Foundation's pilot schools for seven academies

[edit] Trivia

  • Doris Miller attended Jefferson-Moore High School, a name-sake of A. J. Moore Academy.
  • Jefferson-Moore High School was the first school in the WISD region to desegragate.
  • L/CPL Johnny Ray Strong attended and graduated from AJ Moore Academy

[edit] External links