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Plano ISD Academy High School

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Established
  
2013

Superintendent
  
Brian Binggeli

Grades
  
9-12

Mascot
  
Titan

Founded
  
2013

Opened
  
2013

Principal
  
Lynn Ojeda

Phone
  
+1 972-905-8100

Number of students
  
420

Type
  
STEAM, Interdisciplinary, and Project-Based Learning Public High School

Address
  
1701 Alma Dr, Plano, TX 75075, USA

District
  
Plano Independent School District

Similar
  
Plano East Senior High Sch, Plano Senior High Sch, Williams High School, Shepton High School, Frankford Middle School

Profiles

Plano isd academy high school student life 2016


Plano ISD Academy High School, or Academy High School, is a STEAM, interdisciplinary and project-based learning high school. The school serves students from grades 9-12. This school is not a regular secondary school because this school uses a selection process to draw eighth graders from various middle schools in Plano. The school is an alternative to regular high schools by offering collaborative team projects, more STEAM classes and the ability to attend classes without structured class periods. This school is one of the three Academy Programs in Plano ISD. The others are the Plano Health Science Academy and the International Baccalaureate Program.

Contents

Plano isd academy high school full graduation ceremony 2016


Campus

The campus is located on 1701 Alma Drive, Plano, Texas, United States. The building is a three-story, former office building that belonged to Bell South, and later, AT&T.

In the summer of 2013, the PISD renovated the building and turned the building into a creative learning school. The school is an open floor plan school with classrooms that are dubbed Learning Spaces. There are three science labs, a fabrication lab, three presentation rooms, library, and conference rooms. Outside the building, there are three parking lots and a grassy area next to Alma Drive.

Curriculum

The Plano Academy was designed for experimental project learning and advanced studies. Students graduating by senior year will have at least two endorsements. As part of the curriculum, all students graduate with the same coursework. There is 1:1 technology at the Academy. Some notable projects include making a Moon magazine, creating an Orange company, designing school curriculum, and launching projectiles. The tenth graders have the option to attend seminars, not classes. Students are able to work independently with their group with less teacher interference. Junior and seniors will also take courses offered by University of Texas that is college credit and high school credit, similar to Advanced Placement. At the end of the week, each grade-level facilitators award best learner and best team for effort during the past week.

Academics

The school offers electives such as foreign languages and Calculus. The school curriculum is designed for core classes to be shared among each grade level.

History

The Academy Visioning Committee started designing the plan for the school in 2010. Texas Instruments, Huawei, and other companies, endowed the new school. In 2013, PISD held a lottery to determine which students are able to attend. In the first year of Academy's opening, students were learning multiple classes combined into a single project. Student-led organizations and PTSA also hosted several fundraising and school events such as the Winter Social, and the paintball tournament. The Academy has also allowed visitors from around the Dallas community to see the school's learning environment. The Academy's first graduating class graduated in the spring of 2016.

Clubs

The Academy offers over 20 clubs. Most clubs meet during school time. NHS and student council meet after school each week as well. Clubs include journalism, dance, video games, and many other interests.

Robotics Club

The Titan Robotics Club won the Rookie All-Star Award at the 2015 Dallas Regional FRC Competition. Team 5431 went on to Nationals in St. Louis, Missouri (from April 22–25, 2015) and made to Carver Field Quarterfinals.

Titan Robotics entered in the Lone Star and Dallas Regional FRC competition in 2016. Team 5431 went on to Nationals in St. Louis, Missouri (from April 22–25, 2016) and made to Carver Field Quarterfinals.

References

Plano ISD Academy High School Wikipedia