The Heritage High School Governor's STEM Academy Program is a ninth through twelfth grade academy in which students can create a personalized focus in one of four career strands. The currently available career strands include engineering and electronics, modeling and simulation in the computer sciences, architectural and engineering design, and computer systems technology via networking. The program allows students who have a passion for STEM learning to delve deeply into their area of focus, allowing students to become immersed in the tech skills and knowledge that their field has to offer. This happens both in the classroom through hands-on learning activities that challenge students to solve problems for themselves. It also occurs outside the classroom through the program's intensive emphasis on internships, job shadowing, mentorship, and other networking opportunities to provide practical experience in the STEM world. Further, through emphasizing both communication skills and workplace readiness, the STEM Academy is focused on producing students who can leave school and compete in the modern market. The STEM education cycle culminates with students receiving industry certification that makes them more competitive in the job market immediately out of high school. In addition to STEM, this school offers a rigorous AP program and everything else a high school student needs to have a well-rounded educational career.
http://heritage.nn.k12.va.us/about.html
http://heritage.nn.k12.va.us/export/sites/Heritage/documents/August_2013_14_A.pdf
