Members Will Be a Part of a Movement to Ensure That All High School Students are College, Career, and Future Ready
(June 28, 2024 – New York, NY) – NAF is excited to welcome 38 new academies into our national network for the 2024-25 school year. As an emerging academy, students have the opportunity to take career-focused courses and participate in work-based learning experiences to help them become future ready.
High schools participating in NAF’s Admissions process either graduate from NAF’s rigorous Year of Planning (YOP) or Fast Track (FT) program.
The Admissions process involves activities to assess and align high school programs and resources with the standards of practice of NAF’s design to start an academy successfully. NAF works to ensure all stakeholders develop a lasting relationship with academies and are well-trained and confident in implementing the NAF design. The process establishes a sustainable foundation for a high-quality academy, creating a shared vision and mission to fulfill the school and community goals.
High schools enrolled in NAF’s emerging academy programs gain access to a guided assessment process that informs and directs the work of advance program planning and development, technical assistance from NAF, professional development, a full suite of resources, and NAF-developed, industry-validated curriculum.
New Academies Include:
Beecher High School, Academy of Health Sciences – Mt. Morris, MI (YOP)
Cape Fear High School, Academy of Agriculture and Natural Resources – Fayetteville, NC (FT)
Columbia Heights Educational Campus, Academy of Finance – Washington, DC (FT)
Decatur High School, Academy of Health Sciences – Federal Way, WA (YOP)
Detroit International Academy for Young Women: School of Biomedical Science and Veterinary Medicine – Detroit, MI (FT)
Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School, Academy of Finance – Providence, RI (YOP)
Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School, Academy of Health Sciences – Providence, RI (YOP)
Duncan Polytechnical High School, Innovative Design and Applied Technology Academy (IDATA) – Fresno, CA (FT)
Federal Way High School, Academy of Engineering – Federal Way, WA (YOP)
Henry M. Gunn High School, Academy of Journalism – Palo Alto, CA (FT)
Homestead Senior High School, Academy of Finance – Homestead, FL (FT)
Hope Academy of West Michigan, Academy of Health Sciences – Grand Rapids, MI (YOP)
Jack Britt High School, Integrated Systems Technology Academy of Engineering – Fayetteville, NC (FT)
J.J. Pearce High School, Academy of Engineering – Richardson, TX (YOP)
John W. North High School, Academy of Applied Computer Sciences – Riverside, CA (YOP)
Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex, Academy of Life Sciences – Providence, RI (YOP)
L.G. Pinkston High School, Academy of Finance – Dallas, TX (FT)
L.V. Berkner High School, Academy of Engineering – Richardson, TX (YOP)
Lighthouse Academy, Academy of Health Sciences – Grand Rapids, MI (YOP)
MacArthur High School, Academy of Engineering – Washington, DC (FT)
MacArthur High School, Academy of Information Technology – Washington, DC (FT)
Miami Central Senior High School, Academy of Hospitality & Tourism – Miami, FL (FT)
Middletown High School, Academy of Engineering – Middletown, NY (FT)
Middletown High School, Academy of Health Sciences – Middletown, NY (FT)
Mount Pleasant High School, Academy of Engineering – Providence, RI (YOP)
Newman Smith High School, Academy of Building & Design – Carrollton, TX (YOP)
Northland High School, Academy of Engineering – Columbus, OH (YOP)
Palo Alto High School, Academy of Journalism – Palo Alto, CA (FT)
Patiño School of Entrepreneurship, Academy of Finance – Fresno, CA (FT)
Pinson Valley High School, Academy of Finance – Pinson, AL (YOP)
Princeton High School, Academy of Small Business – Princeton, NC (YOP)
Salamanca High School, Academy of Hospitality & Tourism – Salamanca, NY (YOP)
Southfield High School for the Arts & Technology, Academy of Information Technology – Southfield, MI (YOP)
Southwest Miami Senior High School, Academy of Health Sciences – Miami, FL (FT)
Theodore Roosevelt High School, Business Management & Administration Academy – Washington, DC (FT)
Todd Beamer High School, Academy of Health Sciences – Federal Way, WA (YOP)
Tulare Union High School, Academy of Marketing – Tulare, CA (YOP)
W. T. Clarke High School, Academy of Engineering – Westbury, NY (FT)
NAF Chief Executive Officer, Lisa Dughi, said, “Congratulations to the newest members of the NAF family – our YOP and Fast Track academies! We commend you on your hard work, commitment, and passion for helping students to become future ready and putting them on a path to achieving their full potential. We look forward to supporting your journeys and sharing in the exciting impact and successes of your students to come!”
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About NAF:
NAF is a national education non-profit that brings schools and businesses together to better prepare students of all backgrounds. Since 1980, NAF has led a movement for immersive, career-focused teaching and work-based learning. With the support of NAF community-based advisory boards, schools connect with the workforce to fuel shared progress—from creating culturally responsive curriculum and paid internship opportunities, to fostering innovation and building future-ready businesses. NAF helps students explore career options, create a plan for the future, and take part in hands-on, work-based learning unlike anything traditional public education systems can offer. NAF puts students on a path to achieving their full potential.
NAF has grown from one NAF Academy of Finance in New York City to hundreds of academies across the country focusing on growing industries including finance, hospitality & tourism, information technology, engineering, and health sciences; and support programs of study that are aligned with the National Career Clusters Framework. During the 2023-24 school year, over 113,000 students attended over 600 NAF academies across 34 states and territories. In 2023, NAF academies reported 99% of seniors graduated with 89% of graduates planning to go to college. Learn more at naf.org and follow us on social @NAFCareerAcads.