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    The Academy Of Civic Engagement and Advanced Studies 
    (Formerly known as the Academy of American Studies)
     

     
    Why the Academy?  
    Where Have We Been? Our Trips Across America Academy Trip Video
     
    Are you an incoming freshman interested in joining the Academy? Click here to download the application.
     
    Welcome to the Academy of Civic Engagement and Advanced Studies page! The Academy is a 4-year program that focuses on civic engagement and college readiness through a variety of courses, guest speakers, field trips, and interactive learning. The Academy is also a companion program to the Advanced Academics program at SDOHS. Students who are accepted into the Academy automatically become part of the Advanced Academic program, which includes Honors/Pre-AP/AP courses.
     
    Why should my student join the Academy? If your student is looking to excel in academics and prepare for college, this program does that.  The type of rigor and dialogue that students receive in the Academy are the type that they will see in college.  The teachers in the Academy are all certified for Honors and AP courses, and have some of the highest success rates for students taking the AP College Board exams.
     
    The 4-Year Program of Study is as follows:
     

    Freshman Year

    ·       AP Human Geography  (1.0 Credit)- Focuses on the movement of people around the globe and how they adapt to those regions and cultures.

    ·         ELA 1-2 H (1.0)- Focuses on Literature that touches on American Classics such as To Kill A Mockingbird.

    ·         Biology H (1.0)- Focuses on the basics of animal and human biology and their interaction with their environment.

     

    Sophomore Year

    ·         World History AP (1.0)- Focuses on the Major Themes seen throughout world history.  

    ·         ELA 3-4 H (1.0)- Focuses on Greek classics along with contemporary literature. 

    ·         Chemistry H (1.0)- Focuses on the dynamics of how matter interacts in different forms. 

    ·         US 2 Online/Hybrid (1.0)- Focuses on American History viewed in the scope of world events, with a focus on historical research. This is an online course consisting of long-term projects.

     

    Junior Year

    ·         AP U.S. History (1.0)- Focuses on the themes of American History, from the Revolution through present day.

    ·         AP Language & Composition (1.0)- Focuses on how literature is composed, using early American literature such as The Scarlett Letter and The Crucible.

     

    Senior Year

    ·         AP U.S. Government (.5)- Focuses on the branches of the U.S. government and how they shape policies and structures within the U.S.

    ·         AP Economics (.5)- Focuses on the development of economic theories as well as market history.

    ·         AP Literature & Composition (1.0)- Focuses on literature from American Poets to contemporary pieces.

    ·         US 4 Internship (1.0)-Year-long internship in which the student chooses a subject/employer they want to explore further and set personal and employer goals that connect with civic duty, history, or career-oriented skills. 

     

    For questions about the Academy, please email the Academy Directors at SO_DirAcademy@dvusd.org. 
     
    If you are a Freshman Honors student and would like to join the Academy, please email SO_DirAcademy@dvusd.org.