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The Academies at Blair are smaller learning communities
(SLCs) consisting of students, teachers, counselors
and administrators and united by common interests
and career goals. The mission is to provide
a nurturing environment in which students are:
- Challenged to pursue the highest level of academic rigor
- Supported in their pursuit of academic and career goals
- Provided career pathways that engage their
interests and meet their needs
- Equipped with the skills needed to be successful
beyond high school
Blair believes in the “wall-to-wall” academy
concept. All students and staff will participate
in one of the smaller learning communities:
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Blair is the only high school in the Downcounty Consortium
which has chosen to implement the wall-to-wall academy model. All
the other DCC high schools offer academies and
application-based SLCs which are open to all students in
the DCC, however, these schools may have students who do
not elect to participate in an academy. For
information on the programs in other high schools click here: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/downcounty/
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Each Academy has an Academy Lead Teacher. In addition,
administrators, teachers and counselors are assigned
by Academy. The overall Academy program is administered
by the Academy Coordinator. Click
here for Academy contact information.
Each Academy (with the exception of International
Studies) is sub-divided into “strands” that reflect
different career pathways within the Academy. To view the specific
strands associated with each Academy, click on the name
of the Academy on this page's sidebar to the left.
Grade 8 students entering Downcounty Consortium high schools
participate in the Choice Process to choose
a high school based on the academies offered. At Blair, all incoming
freshmen become a part of the 9th grade Academy, unless
they are in Magnet or CAP. Through the Connections course,
students are involved in Academy lessons and career
and college research assignments. In addition, students receive
multiple resources to assist them with choosing an Academy. During
the winter break, parents and students are asked to
make a thoughtful decision as to which Academy and strand would
best support the student’s goals and interests,
fully recognizing that there are young people whose
interests may change over the course of their high
school career. (see question
#6) Students
will be provided with a form to complete for selection
of their Academy and strand. Both students and
parents are expected to sign this form.
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Yes. In order to better serve the needs of
such a large and diverse population of students,
Blair has elected to reorganize into smaller learning
communities via Academies. Following a “wall-to-wall” academy
concept, we can ensure that there is enough attention
to prevent a child from falling through the cracks.
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Yes. During registration for the upcoming
school year, in February, students have the opportunity
to submit an Academy change form. The students
will remain in their present Academy for the current
school year. The Academy change form requires
both the student and parent signature similar to
the original Academy selection form.
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The
registration booklet distributed each year by the counseling
office provides a “program planner” for each
Academy and each strand within the Academies. The core and
elective courses are listed on each of these documents. Some
of the electives offered at Blair can fulfill the requirements
of more than one Academy. Students may take electives
in more than one Academy, as their schedule permits.
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Students who fulfill the Academy requirements will
receive an Academy Certificate. It is possible
for a student who chooses electives carefully to
complete the Academy requirements of more than one
Academy and receive more than one Certificate. In
many instances, Academy requirements also fulfill
graduation objectives. However, it is possible
for a student to earn a Maryland high school diploma
without meeting Academy requirements.
Each Academy has prepared a generic letter
to explain the requirements and benefits of
a student’s completion of an Academy
Certificate. This letter will be included
in the college application packet prepared
by the counselor for each student, and is similar
to the letters prepared by the Magnet and Communication
Arts Programs.
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Students who have three credits in designated Academy
courses and a capstone experience will earn
an Academy Certificate.
A
capstone experience can be one of the following:
- Internship
- Research project
- College course (not an AP course)
- Cooperative Work Experience/On-the-Job Training
Please click here for detailed information
on Certificates and capstone experiences.
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Blair is working toward full inclusion of students
with Individual Education Plans (IEP), which means
that these students are scheduled in typical education
classes with additional staff support as required
by their IEP. These students have the same
Academy choices and follow the same procedures as
typical education students.
