Four new academies. A refurbished courtyard. New locker rooms in the physical education building. New ceilings in the academic building. Updated bathrooms.

 

There will be plenty new at Albany High School for the 2011-12 school year. Students, families and the community will have several opportunities to check it all out.

 

The first will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony and sneak preview of the school Thursday, Sept. 1 beginning at 4 p.m. All are invited to attend.

The first day of school -- Tuesday, Sept 6 -- will feature orientation programs for all students. The day will include opportunities for students to get their new IDs, which will be specific to each of the school’s four new academies, and to learn the locations of their classrooms in each academy.

 

Albany High also will host its annual Open House on Tuesday, Sept. 13 from 6-9 p.m.

After a year of planning, Albany High will reopen in September with four smaller academies in place of two larger academic houses. Each academy will have its own theme that is reflected in the choice of electives students can take once they meet the requirements of their core courses in English, math, science and social studies.

The academies – Citizenship, Discovery, Leadership and Innovation – will give students the opportunity to sample a range of courses with an eye toward careers and college.

Each community, or academy, will have its own team of teachers, guidance counselors and administrators to help assure that every student has the opportunity and support to achieve their potential.

 

Although the four academies will function under the umbrella of Albany High – “Four new academies. One great education.” – each academy will have its own student-selected color scheme. Other health and safety improvements taking place in the building during the summer will be completed as well.

 

The reconfigured Albany High came about with the help of a $7.5 million federal grant to transform the high school into four smaller learning communities, an integral part of the district’s 2008 strategic plan, as well as two no-cost facilities plans that voters approved in 2010 and 2011.