An Aerospace School Serving Grades 6-12

In the fall of 2013, the Academy @ Shawnee opened an aerospace magnet school for 50 select students in grade six. This exciting opportunity creates, over time, a 6–12 continuum on the Academy campus for students committed to the field of aerospace, which encompasses the Academy’s hallmark programs of aviation, engineering, and the naval junior reserve officer training corps (NJROTC). 

The program prepares students by helping them develop the core skills needed to be successful at the high school level and beyond. As part of the middle school program, students engage in real-world aviation experiences during 15 days of extended learning time—5 days in the spring semester after acceptance into the program and 10 days in the summer. The program admits students who have a strong record of academic achievement and good attendance—and who are committed to participating in the extended-time experiences.

Hosted on the same campus as the Academy @ Shawnee Aquatics Center and the Challenger Learning Center, students can experience the sense of weightlessness and save the planet from a comet bearing down on the earth—all in the same day. Click here for more information about the Challenger Learning Center.

Highlights

• Offering the newest program for JCPS middle schoolers, the Academy provides leading-edge learning tools and maximizes the flexibility intended for middle school education.
  
• Students experience the exciting field of aerospace, blending engineering and aviation with math, science, and technology.
  
• Extended learning opportunities are offered via the Challenger Learning Center, which is located on the campus.
  
• The small program size allows for intimate learning opportunities and meaningful parent involvement.
  

Applying

To apply to the Academy, you first need to complete the JCPS online application. After the application is submitted, Academy staff may contact the applicant for additional application materials, such as recommendations and work samples. The school may also review the applicant’s attendance records, grades, and test scores. Transportation is provided for most district students who are accepted into one of the school’s aerospace programs. Click here for more information on applying to the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an aerospace school?

Aerospace is the nexus of science, technology, engineering, and math. Students at the Academy are immersed in these disciplines both during and beyond the school day. Students have an interest in continuing their aerospace interest in high school, aligning coursework and participating in extracurricular activities to pursue the high school magnet programs of aviation flight, aviation maintenance, engineering, and the NJROTC. 

Is the middle grades aerospace program open to everyone?

The middle grades aerospace program is a countywide magnet, meaning students from all across the county can apply for admittance—but space is limited!

What are the criteria for entry to the middle grades aerospace program?

Specific criteria includes aspects of strong academic performance, attendance, behavior, and recommendations. Click here for more information on applying to the program.

What is the middle grades experience?

In the middle grades, students gain the fundamental tools necessary to “learn how to learn” in the field of aerospace. This development is fostered through:

• Project Lead the Way’s Gateway to Technology—a nationally acclaimed pre-engineering curriculum
• Extended Learning Opportunities—Occurring both within and beyond the school day, students explore aerospace through familiarization flights, rocket construction and launch, flight simulator training, and orienteering and navigation challenges.
• Opportunities to engage in shadowing at aerospace facilities and take advantage of cloud-based, hands-on Science/Technology/Engineering/Math (STEM) simulation activities through WhiteBox Learning

In addition, all middle grades students will travel with the Challenger Learning Center once a year to the moon, distant asteroid belts, the international space station, and beyond.

How is this school different from the JCPS Math/Science/Technology middle schools?

Aerospace is the nexus of math/science/technology principles and those of engineering. It is the next phase of educational advancement in technical sciences. While these other schools offer some of the same tenets, the Academy is the only JCPS school to align curricula and experiential learning with aerospace industry licensing and certification across a 6—12 grade span.

Students in the aerospace middle grades program commit to participating in 15 days of extended learning opportunities each year—some beginning prior to admission this spring. These experiences will promote the hands-on aspects of aerospace learning, such as rocket construction, robotics configuration, missions to Mars, and more.

Do students wear a uniform?

No, there is no uniform. However, a reasonable dress code is enforced.

Beyond core content and the aerospace electives, what other courses may be offered?

Even with a rigorous and packed academic experience, the Academy offers a well-rounded educational experience for all students. This includes world language study as well as traditional electives such as art and music.

The Academy @ Shawnee’s High School Aerospace Experience

More Info About the Academy's Magnet Programs

The Work Intensifies.

Flight

As a junior, flight students begin ground school and take their exam at year’s end. As seniors, students log flight hours from Clarksville airfield at no charge.

Aviation Maintenance

Upon entering the junior year, aviation maintenance students begin dual-credit courses on site with JCTC. Students may complete almost half of the Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) license by graduation. After high school graduation, JCTC will pay for qualifying Academy students to complete their A&P license.

Engineering

Project Lead the Way takes high school students through core engineering classes which culminate in a fourth-course capstone project, in which students tailor the assignment to match their interests and professional aspirations. Theory and practice merge, giving students the full exposure necessary to see principles at work in real-life applications.

NJROTC

The NJROTC builds student leadership, followership, character, and integrity as students learn how achieving a greater good requires cohesion among all moving parts—just like engineering, flight, and maintenance. Students will discover new abilities within themselves to plan, lead, analyze, perform, and evaluate. Those wishing to parlay this experience into the armed forces will enter at a higher rank; those moving on to other arenas carry with them the newfound sense of self and sense of community built as a member of the corps.

Curricula Used for Aerospace at the High School Level

In flight, the curriculum follows the regimen of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified part 141 flight school. “Part 141” is the most rigorous certification available for a private pilot’s license program. In aviation maintenance, it is Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) part 147. In engineering, students engage in the nationally acclaimed program, “Project Lead the Way.”

Industry Certifications That May Be Earned by the End of High School

• Private Pilot’s License
• Airframe & Powerplant License (A&P license requires one additional year at JCTC; all expenses paid)

These Industry Certifications Matter!

There are many youth across the country that will apply to college and have a strong grade point average, solid test scores, and a list of athletic and extracurricular involvement. Industry certifications can set students apart from the masses. There are not many students nationally who can claim to be “pilot” or “A&P” certified on their college applications!