SDHS 865 ACADEMIES FAQ

How are academies different from what high school was like before?

The 865 Academies initiative is designed to help students connect their classwork with real-world opportunities to make an impact on the world. Students will have the opportunity to engage more frequently with college, business, and industry partners through guest speaking events, field trips, job shadowing, and internships. The heart of the 865 Academies experience is the creation of career-themed academies at district high schools. When fully implemented, students will choose a career pathway that will include at least three elective classes aligned to a college and/or career goal.

How will the academy system benefit students?

The academy model will allow students to experience different opportunities to better prepare them for after high school. The idea is to set a stronger foundation for all students whether they plan to enlist in the military, seek employment, or attend a post-secondary college, university or trade school.

How will the academies be different from one another?

Each academy houses specific pathways. This will allow each academy experience to be tailored to student interests and needs as it relates to college and career goals. The structure and opportunities in each academy are similar; however, the industry-related field trips, guest speakers, and internship opportunities will vary based on pathways. 

How does our school benefit under the academy model?

Beyond the multitudinous opportunities for individual students, one of the greatest benefits for the school is that the academy model makes a big school feel smaller. The academy model creates structures that allow students to build community and relationships with students who share similar interests and a smaller group of educators. Our goal at South-Doyle is that every student is known, supported, and belongs. 

Can students take classes outside of their academy?

Yes. Many classes are considered global and available to all students. Also, if there are open seats in classes a student is interested in within other academies as well as room in a student’s schedule, a student can request to take those classes.  A global class is one that is available to any 10th -12th-grade student no matter the academy. 

What is the purpose of Freshman Academy and Freshman Seminar?

Freshman Academy is designed to welcome students to high school, provide a smaller learning community to connect with teachers and classmates, and help them select a career pathway for Grades 10-12. Freshman Seminar is an integral part of Freshman Academy. Seminar is designed to help students with personal and professional skills that support them in becoming successful during and after high school. Another purpose of seminar is to inform and expose students to college and career opportunities that align with students’ interests. Students explore pathways and access the YouScience Aptitude Assessment in this class also. YouScience is designed to help identify meaningful skills, abilities, and innate talents. The assessments and individualized reports help students understand how their gifts and passions fit with real careers.

What is the process of choosing our pathway?

Students will explore pathway offerings through Freshman Seminar and Freshman Academy events such as seminar assignments, guest speaker events, and a pathway fair. Through YouScience, class discussion, and career exploration, students should be able to determine pathways that best suit their interests and future goals. When the time for selection comes, students will fill out a google form that allows them to select their top three pathway choices and explain why they want to join those pathways.

Can a student switch pathways?

Students are able to request a pathway change one time. The process includes filling out a Google form and meeting a student support staff. A pathway change will be dependent on space within the pathway.

What if the career I want isn’t represented by a pathway at South-Doyle High School?

The pathway you choose is to help provide exposure and opportunities related to that industry. Though we may not have a pathway that sounds like it aligns specifically with your career, many of the pathways will provide academic and experiential learning that support a variety of careers and skills needed for college and career success. 

What exactly is a pathway? What experiences will I have within my pathway?

A pathway is a career-themed set of classes that leads to skills within an industry. A pathway will include at least three elective classes aligned with a college and/or career goal. Pathways offer more opportunities for guest speaker events, job shadowing experiences, internships, National Industry Certifications, and marketable skills straight out of high school.

Will I share classes/hallways with the same students like I do in freshman academy?

South-Doyle High School is comprised of seven academic buildings. Freshman academy is housed separately on Young Campus, with the remainder of the coursework taking place across the street. Core coursework for the academies takes place on a designated floor of our main building, Building A, and the pathway coursework for the academies takes place in one of two designated buildings: Buildings B and E. Buildings C, D, and F house our global and fine arts coursework, meaning that they are available to all students grades 10-12. 

Is a pathway the same as an elective focus?

A pathway will complete the elective focus graduation requirement

Do you HAVE to complete a pathway to graduate?

While a career pathway is not a State of Tennessee graduation requirement, career pathways do meet the elective focus graduation requirement. Students will be scheduled into core classes first and then pathway classes. This is equivalent to one pathway class per grade level 10-12.  

What are the pathway options?

Architectural and Engineering Design, Automotive Collision Repair, Structural Systems, Technology, Welding, Cosmetology, Marketing Management, Nursing Services, and Sport and Human Performance

Why aren’t there more pathways?

A school’s student and staff population cannot support an infinite number of pathways. Therefore, the number of pathways must be sustainable from year to year. Pathways are generated by student interest, school programming, and high-wage, high-demand industry opportunities.

What if I can’t decide on a pathway?

We don’t expect all students to know exactly who and what they want to be after high school. The academy model is designed to provide students with professional and intrapersonal skills that apply to all situations in addition to more industry-specific skills that could translate to future college and career opportunities. YouScience is a great place to start. By analyzing YouScience results, students can get a grasp on what careers align best with their aptitudes and interests. In addition, students should have conversations with their families and teachers about their passions and interests and think through how that could translate into future options.

Do we have to pick a pathway if we don’t know what we want to do when we graduate?

Yes. A career-themed pathway is a great opportunity to help students consider opportunities after graduation while gaining real-world experience. A career pathway in high school does not require a student to enter into the field of work or study; it informs and exposes students while providing relevance and transferable skills.

Do you have to complete all three classes in a pathway?

Yes. To complete a pathway, students must complete at least three electives in the pathway.

Can you be in more than one academy? What about more than one pathway?

Students will designate one career pathway. This pathway will by nature place them into an academy. While it may be possible to complete more than one pathway during a student’s high school career, students will identify with one primary pathway and academy.

What will happen if the pathway is full?

Though unlikely, it is possible that pathways will become full. This is why the pathway selection form is important. Within that process, students make their top three choices and provide explanations of why each pathway interests them. This will help administration and counselors best place students on the right pathway that helps them meet their future college and career goals.

How will we benefit from the business partners who collaborate with our academy?

Business partners who collaborate with our academies are dedicating their time and talent to students. They may serve as guest speakers or host students at their workplace for a job-related field trip. In addition, students might have the opportunity to intern with or job shadow our business partners. These business partners will help students and teachers better understand the career that they represent. For example - What skills are needed? What are employers looking for? What colleges or universities offer the best opportunities for students looking into a specific career path?

How does being a part of an academy or selecting a pathway better prepare us for college?

The academy model informs and exposes students to industry-related opportunities that coincide with a student’s interest. This can provide foundational and transferable skills as students pursue a field of study at a post-secondary institution. It could also serve as a tool to guide students away from a career and field of study they thought they might be interested in but upon in-depth exploration, realize they should reconsider.

How are current upperclassmen going to be affected by this change?

Students graduating in the class of 2026 or earlier will continue to participate in the traditional high school scheduling process for the remainder of their matriculation. It is possible that these students will benefit from opportunities generated by academies such as guest speaker events.

Where do the arts fit into the academy structure?

All fine arts and performing arts classes are considered global and are available to all students. Students will be enrolled in their pathway and will still have 9-10 additional elective courses throughout their 4 years at South-Doyle High School; therefore, a student can take as many as 8 fine arts and performing arts electives if they desire.

Are world languages attached to specific pathways?

World language courses are considered global and are available to all students. Students will be enrolled in their pathway and will still have 9-10 additional elective courses throughout their 4 years at South-Doyle High School; therefore, a student can fill those elective spaces with additional World Language courses beyond the two that are required.. 

Is there an AP pathway?

AP Classes are considered global and open to all students, so anyone is able to take them. However, there is no dedicated pathway for advanced academics.

Will there be student ambassadors for each academy?

Yes, each academy will have ambassadors that represent the academy in a variety of ways.

Can you still graduate early under this model?

Yes. Graduating early may impact a student’s ability to participate in an academy-related internship or work-based learning experience, but it will not impede a student’s ability to graduate early.