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Newport-Mesa schools give go-ahead to arts and sciences academies

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Signature Academies, which allow students to specialize in a specific subject from kindergarten through graduation, will begin to emerge at Newport-Mesa schools this year.

However, officials said they have not fully vetted the idea of allowing students to freely move between the district’s four zones to select the academy of their choice.

“There are districts that have that type of policy,” said Chuck Hinman, assistant superintendent of secondary education. “I just can’t tell you if it’s going to be a fit for Newport-Mesa.”

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Officials said the board will be addressing the logistics of intra-district transfers and likely implement an application process for the academies in the next several months.

The school board voted 6-0 Tuesday night to approve the art and science academies for each of the school zones, named after each high school and made up of elementary, middle and high schools. Trustee Vicki Snell was absent.

The district began discussing signature academies, previously called flagship programs, about two years ago with the goal of attracting more students to Newport-Mesa schools, Hinman said.

“One of the major purposes behind the academy is to enhance community pride for your home school,” Hinman said.

Hinman anticipates that the academies, which are optional for students, will start out small.

Students will initially be exposed to the programs in their zone’s elementary schools. As they move through junior high and into high school, they will have the option to take classes that relate to the zone’s academy ultimately working up to a final project.

Students who complete the requirements of the program by graduation will receive a seal on their transcript, giving them “a competitive edge” in college admissions, officials said.

Costa Mesa and Newport Harbor high schools have had aspects of their academies in place for several years.

Costa Mesa High plans to expand its Delta program, which focuses on math, science and technology. The school’s current program is made up of hundreds of high-achieving math and science students in seventh through 10th grades.

The school will also continue to develop its Academy of Creative Expression, or ACE program, to give students a conservatory experience in music and performing arts as well as visual arts.

Newport Harbor will continue its International Baccalaureate for Academics and Arts program, which is a two-year course of study for juniors and seniors that includes a college-level course called The Theory of Knowledge, a student-designed community service project and a research project. Students in the program also pursue college-level work in English, a second language, history, math, science and an elective.

Estancia’s flagship, E-Tech High, will feature an engineering and design academy focused on construction technology, a biomedical academy focused on preparing students for medical careers and an animation academy.

Corona del Mar’s two flagship programs are an international academy, which would focus on foreign language development and social science courses, and a performing arts and multimedia academy, which would have pathways for art, dance, drama, instrumental and choral.

Trustee Martha Fluor is in favor of allowing students to transfer between schools based on their area of interest.

“We wanted to get them off the ground and begin to move forward,” she said of the programs. “But that’s a conversation we need to have. My belief is that not every high school can satisfy every student in that area.”

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