Advanced Technologies Academy

Advanced Technologies Academy (A-TECH, ATA, ATECH) is a magnet public high school in Las Vegas, Nevada with a focus on integrating technology with academics for students in grades 9-12. The magnet school program was founded in 1994 and is part of the Clark County School District. The first year included only 9th and 10th grade, adding a grade each year. The first graduating class was 1997, and the first graduating class with all four years of attendance was 1998. As of 2011, the school had an enrollment of 1,059 students and 60 classroom teachers on a FTE basis, for a student-teacher ratio of 18:9.^[1] The magnet school focuses on computer and technology related study fields.

Historical events

Unlike traditional high schools, A-TECH has no team sports. Students wishing to play team sports participate at their zoned high school. Games of flag football and basketball had been held between A-TECH and Las Vegas Academy (another local magnet school with no sports teams) since the school's opening, though have been discontinued since 2008. Games of flag football and soccer are held annually between A-TECH and Northwest Career and Technical Academy, a magnet school that was opened in 2008.

The gymnasium building began construction during the 1998-1999 school year, and opened in the year 2000.

Efforts to increase the student population at the school began in the early 2000s. Construction of the school's east wing (including additional classrooms, offices, and a lecture hall) and expansion of the existing cafeteria began in 2002, and was completed in time for the start of the 2003-2004 school year. The expansion increased enrollment from approximately 750 students to just over 1000.

Fields of study

A-TECH currently provides eight areas of study:

• Business and Finance (BF): Students are prepared with the principles and operations of business and finance found in today’s technologically advanced global economy. The curriculum includes marketing, entrepreneurship, financial service training, and accounting. Classes are enhanced by multimedia presentations, business simulations, internet research, electronic mail, time management and the preparation of a professional business plan. Students learn how to pay taxes and work with money.
• Law-Related Education (Legal Studies): Students in this program focus on civil and criminal law with practical training in the skills necessary for pursuing a career as an attorney, police officer, paralegal, social worker, and crime scene investigator. Students utilize hardcopy and online resources including the national reporter system. Specialized equipment is provided to aid students in analyzing crime scenes. Students successfully admitted into the Legal Studies program start off in street law, progress to Civil/Criminal Law and Victims' Rights, Criminalistics, and lastly Forensics.
• Computer Graphic Design (CG): In this program, students focus on the professional areas of graphic design, computer art, and video. Students develop skills in the areas of drawing, digital and visual communications, design critiquing, portfolio development and presentations. Projects, design competitions and internships allow students to apply their skills at a professional level.
• Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD): Students in CADD learn industry drafting standards in two and three-dimensional drawing techniques, rendering, and animation necessary in the fields of architecture and engineering. Students test their skills through participation in local and national design contests and in preparing for Autodesk certification.
• Systems Technology Support (STS): In Systems Technology Support, students develop the skills necessary to support microcomputers with various platforms and to administer network systems. Systems Technology Students have to pass an electronics course in order to graduate from the school with a Systems Technology Support diploma from the school and the school district. Students are taught the fundamentals of Local Area Network design and the responsibilities of a system administrator. Students prepare for the Novell CNA, Microsoft MCSA, Cisco CCNA, and A+ certification in the class.
• Information Technology (IT): Courses in this program provide students with the most diverse technological background of any computer area. Training in microcomputer operating systems, business applications, accounting, programming, system design and management are emphasized. Students are prepared for Microsoft Office Specialist Certification, Master Certification Exam, and A+ Certification. Students learn how to make a website and a webcast. As a requisite of the courses, students are required to learn HTML and Visual Basic. The program area could be molded in conjunction with Systems Technology Support.
• Computer Science (CS): In Computer Science, students focus on programming in Visual Basic and Java. The programming experience is enhanced by multimedia and website design for business, mathematics, science, and industry. Multimedia training in the techniques of three-dimensional modeling, morphing, animation and development of computer games is provided. Through website classes, students develop skills in designing and maintaining cutting edge professional websites. The computer science teacher was nominated for several awards and inducted in the Teacher's Hall of Fame in 06-07.
• Pre-Engineering Technology (ET): Students in Pre-Engineering develop knowledge of engineering principles, technological and engineering problem solving skills and decision making methods. The fields of civil, electrical, mechanical, and robotic engineering are studied through hands-on learning labs, interactive engineering software, and two courses through UNLV.

Awards and recognition

• During the 2003-04 school year, Advanced Technologies Academy was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education,^[2][3] the highest award an American school can receive.^[4][5]

• ATECH was named a School of Distinction—top Technology Excellence high school—by Intel in 2005.^[6]

• Advanced Technologies Academy was recognized with the Exemplary School Award from the Nevada Department of Education for the graduating classes of 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2010, and received the High Achieving School Award from the Nevada Department of Education for the graduating classes of 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, and 2007^[7]

• Magnet Schools of America recognized A-TECH as a School of Distinction in 2008 ^[8]

• U.S. News & World Report selected A-TECH as a Silver Medal Winner of America's Best High Schools in 2008^[9]

• ATECH was recognized, for the second time, with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education on September 15, 2011.^[10]

Notable visitors

Since its opening in 1994, A-TECH has received several notable visitors. In 1996, Al Gore visited A-TECH to spotlight it as an example of how computer technology can enhance education.^[11]

After receiving the Blue Ribbon School award, Laura Bush visited the school in 2004 and had a round table discussion with many members of the staff and student body.^[12]

The school has also been visited by Louis Castle, cofounder of Westwood Studios.

In recognition to the school's recent nomination as one of the top five magnet schools in the United States, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush visited the school in 2014.

Notable faculty members

Some of the awards given to A-TECH faculty include:

• Computer Science teacher, John Snyder, who has received the following awards:
  • Business Week Magazine National Award for Innovating Teaching in 1988
  • Named Nevada Teacher of the year and Burger King State Teacher of the year in 1990
  • Milken Educator Awards recipient in 1992^[13]
  • He was named Tandy Technology Scholar in 1991
  • Inducted into the Clark County Excellence in Education Hall of Fame in 1992
  • He was named a Christa McAuliffe Fellow in 1994 and 1998
  • Dolly Parton presented him with the Chasing Rainbows Award in 2003^[14]
  • Inducted in the National Teachers Hall of Fame 2007^[15]
• Valarie Young (World History), the recipient of the Milken Educator award.^[16]
• Mike Patterson (Mathematics), Milken Educator awards recipient.^[17]

References

External links

• Advanced Technologies Academy

Coordinates: 36°11′10″N 115°10′37″W / 36.1862°N 115.1769°W / 36.1862; -115.1769