Plano ISD Academy High School

Plano ISD Academy High School

The logo of the school
Location
1701 Alma Dr
Plano, Collin County
United States
Information
Type STEAM, Interdisciplinary, and Project-Based Learning Public High School
Established 2013
Opened 2013
School district Plano ISD
Superintendent Steve Fortenberry Interim
Principal Lynn Ojeda
Faculty 30
Grades 9-12
Enrolment 300
Campus size 37
Campus type Office Building
Color(s) Light Blue and Silver
Mascot Titan
Newspaper The Titan Weekly Can
Feeder schools Plano ISD Middle Schools
Website http://academyhs.pisd.edu/

Plano ISD Academy High School, or Academy High School, is a STEAM, interdisciplinary and project-based learning high school.[1] The school serves students from grades 9-12. This school is not a regular secondary school, because this school uses a selection process to draw eighth graders from various middle schools in Plano. The school is an alternative to regular high schools by offering collaborative team projects, more STEM classes and the ability to attend classes without structured class periods. This school is one of the three Academy Programs in Plano ISD. The others are the Plano Health Science Academy and the International Baccalaureate Program.

Campus

The campus is located on 1701 Alma Dr., Plano, Texas, United States. The building is a three-story, former office building that belonged to Bell South.[2] In the summer of 2013, the PISD renovated the building and turned the building into a creative learning school. The school is an open floor plan school with classrooms that are dubbed Learning Spaces. Also, there are three science labs, a fabrication lab ,three presentation rooms, library, and conference rooms. Outside the building, there are three parking lots and a grassy area next to Alma Drive.[3]

Curriculum

The Plano Academy was designed for experimental project learning and advanced studies.Students graduating by senior year will have at least two endorsements. As part of the curriculum, all students graduate with the same coursework. There is 1:1 technology at the Academy. Some notable projects include making a Moon Magazine, creating an Orange Company, Designing school curriculum, and launching projectiles. The tenth graders have the option to attend seminars, not classes. Students are able to work independently with their group with less teacher interference. Junior and Seniors will also take courses offered by University of Texas that is college credit and high school credit, similar to Advanced Placement. At the end of the week, each grade-level facilitators award best learner and best team for effort during the past week.

Academics

The school offers electives such as Foreign Languages and Calculus. The school curriculum is designed for core classes to be shared amongst each grade level.

History

The Academy Visioning Committee started designing the plan for the school in 2010. Texas Instruments, Huawei and other companies,[4] endowed the new school. In 2013, PISD held a lottery to determine which students are able to attend. In the first year of Academy's opening, students were learning multiple classes combined into a single project. Student-led organizations and PTSA also hosted several fundraising and school events such as the Winter Social, and the paintball tournament. The Academy has also allowed visitors from around the Dallas community to see the school's learning environment.[5]

Clubs

The Academy offers over 20 clubs. Most clubs meet during school time. NHS and Student Council meet after school each week as well. Clubs include journalism, dance, video game, and many other interests.

Robotics Club

The Academy Robotics Club won the Rookie All-Star Award at the 2015 Dallas Regional FRC Competition. Team 5431 went on to Nationals in St.Louis Missouri (from April 22-25, 2015) and made to Carver Field Quarter Finals.

The Titan Weekly Can

The Titan Weekly Can is the school paper that has a tradition of a print and restroom edition for easy reading.

Notes

  1. ↑ "Plano Academy High School About US". Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  2. ↑ "1701 Alma Dr. official property records". Loopnet.net. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Academies of Plano". Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  4. ↑ "Community". Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  5. ↑ "Academy Tours". Retrieved 2013-03-23.

See also

External links