Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy is a comprehensive college preparatory magnet school. In August 2004, the school opened with 7th and 8th grades and has grown to include 6th through 12th grades in recent years.
PFTSTA is located in Jefferson, LA, outside of New Orleans. Named after Patrick F. Taylor, this Sci-tech school currently has grades 6-12. The students are currently on a schedule, four separate 90 minute (an hour and a half) courses a day that changes the following semester. The school campus is located on the old Deckbar site, and each student receives a personal laptop to do school and homework on. The school's current principal is Jaime Zapico, and the vice principal is Jacueline Decrois.
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The school was started in 2004 as a half day specialty school called Jefferson Parish School for Science and Technology (JPSST). Students attending public schools in the parish would enroll in JPSST and be transported there by bus every afternoon. Starting off with only one grade (7th), the school soon became a full day magnet school by the 2005-2006 school year and was renamed Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy (PFTSTA), after Patrick F. Taylor, an oil business tycoon famous for creating the TOPS program (which helps pays college tuition for students who attain a minimum GPA and ACT score). Patrick Taylor's widow, Ms. Taylor, continues to play a close role in the development of the school. At the time, the school included 7th - 9th grade and was located in the Parish School System headquarters, occupying one hallway of the building. On August 29th, 2005, only a few weeks into the school year, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, causing evacuations and New Orleans school closures. The rest of the 2005-2006 school year continued with a smaller amount of students, but still successfully.
For the 2006-2007 school year, PFTSTA moved to its own building in Jefferson, Louisiana, only a few blocks away from the Parish School Headquarters building. The school moved into what was previously Deckbar Elementary. The larger complex included three classroom buildings, a cafeteria building, and a smaller building used as a computer lab. The oldest building was built in the 1920s. With each new year, the school was getting progressively bigger as each new grade was added. At this point, PFTSTA grades 7 - 10 and about 115 students. A 6th grade was added in 2007.
The 2008-2009 school year was the first year in which Patrick Taylor had a full school. PFTSTA's 220 students prepared to say goodbye to its first graduating class. The commencment ceremony took place at the Alario Center, on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish.
In 2010, PFTSTA's name was changed to Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Regional Academy (PFTSTRA) to further clarify the role the school plays in Southeastern Louisana, however, the new name is not widely used in informal speech. That same year, the federal government awarded Taylor Academy the Blue Ribbon Award for Scholastic achievement, one of the highest honors a public school can receive.
Several traditions have been started at Patrick Taylor Academy which are celebrated by the students and faculty. These include Founder's Day, a celebration of Mr. Taylor and the work he did to proliferate education in Louisiana. Ms. Taylor attends the event, and students put on performances, eat food, and sing the alma matter together.
The lyrics to the school's alma matter are as follows:
Patrick Taylor is a Jefferson Parish specialty school; the students have to apply to the school and exhibit certain behavior and grades in order to be accepted. Test scores from the March previous to application are to be viewed as well as their final report cards from last year, the year before, and the year the student is in, in order to be accepted into PFTSTA.
Patrick Taylor has a diverse group of clubs and electives. Two electives are picked for grades eighth and up. Clubs are extracurricular and have meetings during lunch or after school. If you want to be challenged in school, you can always apply to go. It is not guaranteed that you will be accepted.
There are many other electives added as the years go by.
Patrick F. Taylor and its students have received several rewards.
In Academic Games for the year 2007-2008, Patrick F. Taylor won many awards for their efforts. Middle Division includes 6th-8th grades, Junior Division includes 9th-10th grades, and Senior Division includes 11th-12th grades.
Propaganda:
LinguiSHTIK:
Equations:
On-Sets:
For the year 2007-2008, five Taylor students made it to nationals for Academic Games in Kissimmee, Florida, where they will "battle" it out with other students that are coming there too from other states in the U.S. Next year, those who make it to Nationals will all be going to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Taylor Receives Laura Bush Foundation Grant: The Taylor school library has been selected to receive a grant of $7,500.
This year, Taylor won a contest for an author to come visit the school. Tiffany Trent (author of Hallowmere) came. Every student received a free copy of the first book, The Serpent's Coils.
Patrick Taylor is on the old Deckbar site with grades 6th - 12th. Plans are being drawn up right now for a new building on the West Bank, near the Alario Center.
A three story campus is being drawn up right now. Many prominent businesses have shown interest in sponsoring the building.