Moorhead Area Public Schools Career Academy is opening this Fall. The building is approximately three miles south of Moorhead High School on 17 acres of land. The finished career academy is 177,000 square-feet, including a second level. The building includes learning labs, classroom space and collaborative huddle spaces.
One High School, Two Sites
Moorhead Area Public Schools is innovating its approach to high school education. With the addition of a career academy and upcoming new high school, all students will be impacted and receive a consistent grade 9-12 experience across two sites. Student programming will be more relevant and personalized by implementing small learning communities and career pathways across both campuses.
This project completely changes education for future generations of students. Each student will discover their passions, explore their options, work toward industry certifications and gain real work skills. This will help students thrive in whatever post-graduation path they choose.
Collaboration
This is a collaborative process with several teams working on specific aspects of the plan. Over 300 community members, teachers, staff and students have participated directly in the development of plans for the new Career Academy and High School. Internal and external teams have carefully crafted the curriculum and culture that will make this new and innovative approach successful.
Timeline
The Career Academy facility and initial programs will be ready by late August of this year. The work on the high school will begin Fall of 2021 and the academic wings of the high school are set to open fall of 2023. The full high school will be complete by late fall/early winter of 2024.
Small Learning Communities
Students will be a part of career pathways, or small learning communities at the Career Academy and Moorhead High School. This will allow students to create more personal connections and help make a large school feel smaller.
These small learning communities will each focus on a different career pathway. Each small learning community has a gradual timeline of content and course introduction. This allows for flexibility to meet students’ needs. Take a look at some of the small learning communities below.
- Personalized Core Curriculum
This Small Learning Community will focus on personalized learning. Students will have the opportunity to take part in an online learning environment through Spuds Academy. Students will also have their curricular learning, social emotional learning and additional support tailored to their needs within the Moorhead Area Alternative Learning Center.
- Farm to Table
In this Small Learning Community, students will explore pathways in Culinary Arts, Natural Resources and Agricultural Management. Students will be able to learn and take courses about nutrition, international food, global agriculture, conservation science and many other areas beyond.
- Health and Human Potential
This Small Learning Community will encompass pathways within Health Careers & Biotechnology, Personal Empowerment, Education and Law & Public Safety. Taking courses in this area can set students up for being CNAs and teachers as well as study areas like criminal law, medicine, personal finance and human development.
- Entrepreneurship & Business
Entrepreneurship, Business management and Marketing & Communications are the main focus in this Small Learning Community. Students can take courses such as business law, accounting, marketing and web design.
- Information Technology & Design Thinking
In this Small Learning Community, students will have the opportunity to take courses about engineering, coding, computer science, interior design and architecture.
- Manufacturing & Transit
This Small Learning Community focuses on courses that prepare students for careers in manufacturing, construction, automotive, truck driving, railroad and aerospace industries.
- Liberal Arts & Communication
This Small Learning Community will help students who are interested in the Liberal Arts. It will include courses in Advanced Placement and Honors for the Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences.
- Freshmen
In this Small Learning Community, freshmen students will be supported in their transition into high school and during their freshman year to aid students in finding success throughout high school. This will include using the BARR (Building Assets Reducing Risk) Program to help ensure student success through prioritizing relationship building.
Stay informed throughout the multi-year construction project by subscribing to the community newsletter. Visit www.isd152.org/page/construction for details.