Freshman Academy
The Freshman Academy is a small learning community with a network of teachers focused on helping you make a successful high school transition and future academy and pathway selection. This Academy will provide coursework in core content areas, elective opportunities, and career and academy exploration through the Freshman Seminar course. In the Freshman Seminar course, you will explore the six RCAS Academies and have the opportunity at the end of your Freshman year to select an academy to enter in 10th Grade.
Within the Freshman Academy, you can earn up to eight (8) credits.
Key Terms
Academy
An academy is a small learning community organized into one or more pathways that include career-connected learning and provides you with increased personalized attention.
Career Pathways
A pathway is a course of study housed with one of six academies (high school graduation requirements will be embedded) offered in our two comprehensive high schools and, in some cases, in partnership with institutions of higher education. When fully developed, each pathway will include two or three courses organized around a career theme and offered in a planned sequence of courses that move from general knowledge to deeper skills.
Within an RCAS Academy, a student will take:
- An Academy Introductory Course;
- A Pathway Foundational Course;
- An optional Specialized Pathway or Capstone Course; and
- Electives, including Fine Arts, World Language, Physical Education, and Special Offering courses.
GRADtime
GRADtime is an intentional time for you to interact with school counselors to develop a College, Career, and Life Ready plan beyond high school. Teachers, with the support of school counselors and social workers, will facilitate GRADtime eight times per year which will offer you the opportunity to receive Graduation, Readiness, Advising, and Direction in a classroom setting through an online learning platform. This advisory course will allow you to have intentional time to 
explore college and career options, reflect on your own educational journey, learn about healthy relationships, and obtain the skills needed to fulfill the RCAS Profile of a Graduate.
The purpose of the RCAS Academies is to equip our students with the knowledge and skills they need to explore career options in high school as well as build strong connections to employers, institutions of higher education, and community-based organizations.
This approach will help students develop a plan that leads graduates to a successful transition beyond high school including postsecondary education and training, careers, and life responsibilities.
21st Century Skills The RCAS Academies will prepare students to graduate with the necessary skills and competencies that support the RCAS Profile of a Graduate.
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Certifications Each academy will offer students the opportunity to earn a nationally-recognized industry certification. |
Earning College Credit All academies will allow students the opportunity to earn college credit aligned with their selected pathway. |
Partnerships Business and community partnerships are an integral piece of the RCAS Academies model. There are currently more than 215 partners working with our students in grades K-12 in career-connected |
Project-Based Learning Project-based learning allows students to learn by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects.
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Work-based Learning Job Shadow, Internship, and Service Learning opportunities allow students to make real-world connections to the content they are learning. |
Graduation Requirements
As part of the RCAS Academies, every RCAS high school student will take a one-semester Freshman Seminar course. This course will provide students with important skills for high school, future workplace success, and introduce them to the RCAS Academies. Each student will take an Academy Introductory Course in one of the six academies housed at our two comprehensive high schools. This course is designed to guide exploration of their chosen academy and help students to select a pathway to enter 11th grade. To learn more about the graduation requirements for the graduating class of 2024 and beyond, click here.