The Academy Development Model

One reason why growing numbers of states, districts and schools have decided to start career academies is that they have been found to be effective in improving students' performance. Several studies in California have found that academy students perform better than students in the same high schools who have similar demographic characteristics and ninth-grade records of grades, absenteeism and disciplinary problems.

An evaluation of the first two academies in California found that academy students in grades 10 through 12 had better attendance, earned more credits, obtained higher grades and were more likely to graduate than their comparison groups. From 1985 through 1988, a similar evaluation of the 10 initial state-funded academies in California showed substantial and statistically significant advantages for academy students in attendance, credits earned toward graduation, grade point averages and retention through high school.

Click here to view a PDF of research results on Why to Start an Academy.

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