About AOIT
The NAF Model
Apex High School's Academy of Information Technology is affiliated with the National Academy Foundation (NAF). While the NAF Academy model inspires students and teachers to greater success, the Academies are bridges between corporate America and local communities. The NAF model works by bringing business people into the public schools and introducing youth to the world of business. Through the Academies, educators and business people are partners for investing in and developing America's youth.
The NAF Method
NAF Academies operate either within existing public high schools or as separate high schools. Organized as small learning communities, NAF students remain together throughout their high school years with a core group of specially trained teachers. The NAF model provides an environment for these teachers to develop interdisciplinary activities that make learning relevant and capture the interest of students. Through real-world, hands-on experiences, each Academy exposes its students for a career in a specific industry; finance, hospitality and tourism, and information technology. Specialized NAF courses are jointly designed by educators and industry specialists to supplement and enrich the traditional school curriculum. Rigorous academic learning is combined with real world work experience and career training which are too often lacking for most of today's high school graduates but critical for doing well in college and in careers. The NAF model works by bringing business people into the public schools and inviting young people from all communities into a culture of success.
Students complete paid internships, during which time they receive hands-on exposure, professional supervision, and practical work experience. This allows students to begin the process of building a resume while "trying on" their future professional roles. Students are selected for these industry-specific placements on the basis of interviews and their fulfillment of coursework requirements.
Apex High School began its Academy of Information Technology (AOIT) in the fall of 2001. May of 2005 saw the successful graduation of 58 students from that first class. Over 90% of these students have continued their education at post-secondary institutions.
The Academy of Information Technology provides students with a rigorous academic curriculum, while exposing them to the varied career paths and opportunities available in the information technology industry. Students engage in a rigorous, project-based learning curriculum focused on providing transferable skills and exposure to the ever-growing IT field.
Apex High School AOIT students participate in numerous school athletic teams and extra-curricular activities. They are also active in the community as volunteers, interns, and employees.
NAF Brochure
AOIT Brochure
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