The Academies

The NAF Academy model has a three-pronged foundation:

A small, career-themed learning community
Made up of student cohorts, local business partners, and educators, these intensive learning groups encompass the resources, leadership and peer support essential to an Academy's success and sustainability. Resources include NAF's advanced curriculum, which is designed, reviewed and updated regularly by a team of certified educators and industry experts.

Community partnerships
Providing a vital connection between classroom learning and "real world" application, community partnerships offer local business leaders the advantage of educating and training students as the next wave of industry professionals through paid student internships and the development of local Academy advisory boards. Students are able to make the connections between classroom studies and industry practices, gaining skills and creating opportunities for themselves after graduation. Local colleges and universities may offer courses to students currently enrolled in Academy programs, while Academy graduates may take advantage of college planning services and articulation agreements.

Professional development
Academy educators and business community members have numerous opportunities to enhance existing skill sets and develop new methodologies through a variety of NAF conferences, technical resources and classroom materials, and peer development activities at the local level.

Academy strengths:

Six- to eight-week paid internships at local businesses and government agencies 

Job shadowing, mentoring and field trips, offering exposure to current industry technology through conferences, trade shows and college fairs

Strong focus on industry-applicable disciplines, including mandatory two-year study of mathematics, computer applications, and a foreign language

Ability to earn college credits while in high school

Enhanced opportunities for employment after graduation