Ceres High manufacturing, Johansen ag academies tops in state

Career-focused programs at Ceres High and Johansen High in Modesto will take a bow March 7, receiving awards as Distinguished California Partnership Academies for 2016. Seven out of the state’s 400 academies earned the distinction.

“As this is the first year that we have conferred this honor on CPAs, we felt it was appropriate that we recognize only the very best of the many terrific academies in California; consequently, less than 2 percent of CPAs will receive the title of Distinguished California Partnership Academy,” notes the awards letter from the state.

The academy model tailors core academic classes to the academy students, who take most of their math, English, history and science courses together. For example, a history project might ask teens to research an inventor. The invention is analyzed in chemistry class. A report and presentation become an English assignment.

The Ceres High School Manufacturing Production and Green Technology Academy trains about 200 students in solar energy systems, recycling efforts, robotics and other useful skills for industrial settings.

Johansen High’s Agriculture Academy combines agriculture mechanics, animal science and plant science courses, linking them with FFA activities to promote leadership, personal growth and career success.

Selections of the winning programs used documents and site visits, with the decisions made by the state Department of Education and the College and Career Academy Support Network at the University of California, Berkeley.

The team looked for alignment with local colleges; industry certifications earned by students; effective partnerships with industry; low attrition rates, particularly among the required majority of at-risk students enrolled; and exemplary graduation rates.

“The dedication, professionalism and compassion required to develop and implement a program achieving all of the above requirements is without parallel in education, and I congratulate every stakeholder involved with your academy for the work that you do,” wrote program lead Jerry Winthrop in the state letter announcing the award. “I believe it’s fair to say that you stand among the best of the best!”

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 4:41 PM with the headline "Ceres High manufacturing, Johansen ag academies tops in state."