Page 24 - Athens New Comers Guide 2020

Career Academy

Preparing Students for Workforce

By Andrew Smith

n the Athens Area, workforce enrolled in ACCA courses attend the 3-5 courses that students complete to
development starts at the Athens Career Academy campus for half or all prepare them for work in a variety of
I Community Career Academy. of their school day. They can choose career areas.
Through the Athens Community Career from several career pathways that will All ACCA courses meet Georgia high
Academy (ACCA), Clarke County School earn them high school credit only or school graduation requirements and
District high school students are given college and high school credit through most count toward technical college
the opportunity to take core college dual enrollment. Through the courses certificates. Additionally, almost all of
classes, complete career-driven college offered at ACCA, a Clarke County School the core college-level courses offered
certification programs and be a part of District student can graduate high at ACCA articulate to the University
work-based learning programs. school with college credit or technical System of Georgia schools for college
In partnership with Athens Technical college certificates, at no cost to them credit. Students enrolled at ACCA for
College, the Athens Community Career or their families. the 2018-19 school year had, in the
Academy works closely with industries The ACCA is structured by course of their 1, 2 or 3 years at the
and businesses in Athens to actively academies providing students with Career Academy, accumulated 3,118
build new curricula that supports access to smaller learning communities credit hours and earned 39 Technical
business needs and ultimately that deliver real-world experiences Certificates of Credit from Athens
trains students for high demand with local businesses and community Technical College.
jobs in the region. members. Each academy houses several Outside the classroom, students

Students at Cedar Shoals High career pathways for students to select are encouraged to explore their field
School and Clarke Central High School from, and each pathway has between of study through internships and

20 Athens Area Chamber of Commerce • www.athensga.com • (706) 549-6800