Star Academy High School Program
Overview
Star Academy is a fully accredited high school. It is specially designed for students with learning differences and ADHD. Students earn their High School Diploma or Letter of Completion, depending on course work completed, and prepare for college, vocational interests or other worthy pursuits.
Star Academy offers high school students a safe haven where they can fully enjoy their high school experience. Here students receive focused individualized attention and support, participate fully in electives, arts enrichment and extracurricular activities, enjoy social events of all kinds including weekend outings, dances and the all important high school prom, and much more.
For many graduating students, Star Academy is the vehicle that got them through high school and the gateway to their post high school dreams. Graduating students go on to two and four year colleges, vocational programs, full and part time work and other worthy pursuits depending on their interests, abilities and aspirations.
High School Program Details
Program structure and schedule>
Requirements for Star Academy High School Diploma
Course Accommodations vs. Modifications>
Arts Enrichment, PE and Electives>
Extra Curricular and After School Activities>
College Readiness, Counseling and Support>
Star Academy Guide to Colleges - for HS Students with LDs>
Vocational Support and Internships
Program Structure and Schedule
The High School at Star Academy is a small school within a big program. The high school consists of 20-30 students occupying 2-3 homeroom classrooms. Each homeroom has 10-12 students with two Head Teachers. These are the faculty members primarily responsible for case managing the student in collaboration with the Head of School. Students break into smaller groups for their classes, based on learning style, processing speed and level of subject matter competency. All high school students come together for social activities, lunch and PE. Students manage their own schedules, no two of which are they same. Throughout the day, students visit specialists in language arts, math, speech & language, OT, social skills groups and more, based on their individual needs. During this time, students receive one-on-one support from a specialist or work with a small group of other students (2-3) and the specialist. Students also select from a range of electives weekly (electives change quarterly), and participate daily in PE as well as either art or music.
Star Academy High School Diploma Requirements
Our philosophy is that all students should be working toward their high school diploma if possible and we support students fully to help make this possible. Star Academy is Fully Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges WASC). (WASC accreditation is important as it impacts students' access to colleges and universities, as well as career opportunities). About half the graduating students at Star Academy receive a High School Diploma (the other half receive a Letter of Completion, see below). Diploma students have demonstrated proficiency in the courses required by Star Academy for this degree.
These requirements include:
For
Funded Students:
Students who are fully funded by their school district must meet all requirements of their school district. Transcripts will be submitted each semester to the student’s district, and the Head of School and Head Teacher will monitor credits worksheets to ensure that the student meets his or her district’s graduation requirements. The diploma will be issued by the student’s district.
For Private Pay Students:
All private pay students must complete 230 credits in the areas outlined below. In addition, they must complete no less than 40 hours of community service by May of their Senior year. Finally, each student must write an autobiography which indicates the student’s understanding of his/her learning styles and what classroom accommodations or modifications allow the student to be successful. Diplomas will be issued by Star Academy.
Total Credits Required for Star Academy High School Diploma = 230.
English - credits required (40) |
PE - credits required (20) PE ()* |
Math - credits required (30) Algebra I (20) ~ taken over 2 years Geometry (10) Algebra II (10) Consumer Math (10) |
Creative Arts-credits required(20) |
History - credits required (30) Geography (5) |
Electives - credits required (55) Keyboarding (5)* |
Science - credits required (30) Earth Science (10) |
Drivers Ed (5)
|
* Indicates that the course may be taken more than once
Letter of Completion
For students who are unable to demonstrate proficiency in the courses required for a Star Academy High School diploma, we offer a Letter of Completion. A letter of completion means the student attended all 4 years of high school and participated in classes appropriate for his/her individual transition needs. Students who receive a Letter of Completion at Star Academy participate fully in the High School graduation ceremony and activities along with all the other graduating students. About half the students in the high school program at Star Academy receive a Letter of Completion.
Course Accommodations vs. Modifications
Student Accommodations for Academic Work;
Many of our students require academic accommodations to complete their work and demonstrate proficiency in the course. These accommodations may include extended time on tests, quiet work environments, use of a calculator or computer, and others. Accommodations are made every day as part of Star’s program and are generously provided as needed.
Course Modifications:
About half the students at Star Academy take regular education classes with accommodations, the other half take modified classes. Students who are unable to master the minimum required content of a general education course or complete assignments at a passing level of proficiency may either take the general education course with a modified standing* or enroll in the many special education classes offered at Star Academy. In either cases these courses will not be recognized by most 4-year colleges as having adequately completed their course requirement and may also impact the student’s ability to graduate with a full Star Academy diploma versus a Letter of Completion. However, students may still enroll in most two-year colleges having taken modified regular education classes and/or special education classes in high school.
*Modified standing is DIFFERENT from an accommodation. It simply means the level of proficiency required to pass the course has been reduced to a level achievable by the student, regardless of the level. An accommodation on the other hand, means the student has been given support of some kind (due to a disability, handicap, etc) so that they may complete the required tasks demonstrating proficiency.
Arts Enrichment, PE and Electives
Star Academy students participate in physical and creative classes every day. These provide a break from academics and multiple avenues to shine.
Physical Education
Star Academy students participate in daily Physical Education. PE is primarily focused on improving fitness, teaching healthy habits and teamwork and improving athletic skills in various team sports & games, such as basketball, volleyball, badminton, baseball, etc.
Star Academy has an all school basketball team, which practices after school and plays against other schools during the winter season.
Creative Arts
Students participate daily in creative arts - Art, Music/Drama, or digital arts. Music classes focus on singing, music appreciation, instrumental instruction and rhythm.
Private instruction in instrumental music is available after school (guitar, base, drums, recorder, and others)
Drama
Drama
productions are primarily all school musical theater events. Students have the opportunity to share the stage with students of all ages as well as support productions behind the scenes as part of the technical team. Support for memorizing lines is amply given. Students who have difficulty with memorizing lines are provided with visual aids. This supportive approach makes it possible for students to fully participate worry free of embarrassing moments and attracts students to the stage who might otherwise avoid it.
Art
Students in the high school take art classes 2-3 times per week. These classes vary by term and grade level and include such things as drawing and painting, sculpture, ceramic arts, and more. Students learn about famous artists and styles of painting and then produce individual works of art consistent with that style. From time to time these student masterpieces are entered into art competitions. In 2011 Star Academy students took first prize at the Marin County Fair for a group project depicting a mural of the SF Golden Gate Bridge.
Digital Arts
Digital arts include filmmaking, website design, photography and photo-editing as well as other digital arts. Not all are offered at the same time, but rather rotate based on student interests. The focus of these classes is developing students’ communication skills and styles of expression using written and spoken words, drawings, photos and video images, music and sound effects, and other communication tools. Students work together in groups and create their projects from beginning to end – in the case of a film, this includes creating the concept, writing the script, acting it out, filming it, editing the film, inputting transitions and sound effects and finally presenting the finished product (the short film) in a screening to their peers. The entire process helps students not only develop technical skills, but also develop group work and social communication skills, organization and time management skills and many other skills.
Electives
High school electives change quarterly and unlike extracurricular activities involve ONLY high school students.
Examples of electives include:
• Media Arts – Yearbook production/journalism
• Forensics
• Psychology
• Vocational Exploration
• Career skills
• Independent Living Skills
Extra Curricular and After School Activities
Extra curricular activities bring together students of all ages to help manage, make or produce something. Older students take on the more difficult tasks and help to mentor younger students, who rely on them for support and encouragement. Extracurricular activities involve a faculty member who helps provide oversight and guidance to the students.
Examples of Extra-Curricular Activities include:
• Student Council
• Student Newspaper
• Yearbook
• Digital yearbook
• Woodshop (Spring Semester)
Star Academy offers numerous after school activities. These change quarterly but include such things as filmmaking, basketball skills and drills, golf, yoga and more. View list of after school activities> These activities must be registered for in advance and are fee for service.
Social Life
High school students care deeply about their social life and this can be a challenging area for many students. We support our students in developing friendships and other positive relationships by teaching social thinking and communication skills throughout every aspect of our program and in social skills groups. We also provide real life opportunities to practice these skills and make new friends by hosting a variety of inter-school social activities and events (such as dances and sporting activities and weekend social outings). View weekend social activities>
Community Service
Community service is an important and required aspect of our program. It is particularly important for our students as it gives them a window into other peoples’ challenges and needs, provides an opportunity to help others and builds self-esteem. Students are required to complete 40 hours of community service. Often these hours are partly completed within the school day through an organized Service Learning Project.
College Readiness, Counseling and Support
Star Academy offers the A-G courses required for admittance into many 4-year colleges, with the exception of foreign language, some lab sciences and some electives. It is the students’ responsibility to identify the college requirements of their desired school and make arrangements to meet these requirements during their high school years. In some cases this WILL require taking community college courses after school or over the summer.
Examples of colleges attended by Star Academy students:
College of Marin, Leslie College, Marshall College, Menlo College, Oberlin College, San Francisco State, Seattle University and many more.
Support for Students Applying to College (and Alternative Programs)
Annie Crowder, Head of School and the student’s Head Teacher will assist the student and their family in identifying appropriate programs for the student after high school. We are also happy to collaborate with local private educational consultants to assist in this effort (educational consultant services are not included in tuition and families pay the provider directly for their services).
To assist students in the college (or alternative program) selection and admission process, Star Academy hosts an annual college fair inviting colleges from around the country who have programs specifically designed to support students with LDs. Star also offers the attached Guide to Colleges – for Students with Learning Differences. This guide provides a wealth of information about colleges, the college application process, standardized tests, and more.
Star Academy Guide to Colleges - For Students with LDs
This guide was prepared by Star Academy staff to support students with learning differences in their college preparation, search and application process.
Download College Planning Guide>
Career Counseling
Star Academy holds a career day every year for all students in the school. Students hear guest speakers talk about their careers and the path they took to get there and students have an opportunity to ask questions. The objective of these days is to expose students to the wide variety of options available to them, and to start them thinking about their own future careers.
Once students are in high school, Star offers specific interest and aptitudes assessments to help students identify careers that will be personally rewarding for the student. Once interests and aptitudes are matched, Star staff help the student identify practical and realistic avenues for pursuing these interests. When possible, Star Academy will help support the student in gaining an internship in the area of their interest.
Support for Students Seeking Vocational Opportunities
Students who do not plan to attend college after high school or who wish to pursue vocational options while still in school are encouraged to develop specific vocational skills in areas of their interest. Star Academy works directly with several local agencies to identify paid or unpaid internships and match students with appropriate opportunities. These internships typically take place after school hours or on weekends. Examples include: pre-school teacher’s aid, animal care, culinary arts, clerical support, recreational support aid.
