Enrollment up at Birmingham's career academies Program allows students to explore interests, develop job skills

Enrollment is up for career academies in the Birmingham City School District, and officials see that as a good sign as they work on helping students get a head start on their chosen careers. 

"I never made ice cream. It was awesome. It tastes like Blue Bell ice cream," senior Jasmine Bledsew said. 

The district's career academies expose students to new experiences, allowing them to weed out what they like and don't like.

"It's, like, helping me because I know I won't waste my time, getting to college. I can just go to my classes, get it over and go to my career," Bledsew said.

"I know what to expect when I get to college. I won't be lost in having to know the different ingredients, what it takes, how to preheat ovens," Martin said.

At the same time, they're getting practical experience to use on and off the job.

"So they are learning their regular math, science, English and social studies. They are concentrating on a career as well as learning how to be awesome citizens," academy coordinator Angela Smith said.

The seven academies are catching on. Last year 700 students were enrolled. This year, enrollment is more than 1,000.

Both Wenonah's Culinary and Hospitality Academy and Woodlawn's Business and Finance Academy earned "Stellar Awards" from the National Academy Foundation

Birmingham's Career Academies continue to grow

Birmingham's Career Academies program has seen a 20 percent increase in enrollment for the 2015 fall semester.

Nearly 1,000 students are enrolled in the program, up from an enrollment of more than 700 this same time last fall, said Dr. Spencer Horn, program director.   

Horn attributes the increase to a growing interest in the program, which offers specialized instruction at six of the system's seven high schools. Students can study everything from engineering and construction to culinary arts and health sciences in preparation for college and careers. 

"The increase does indicate that the interest in the academies is growing as these students are experiencing an in-depth exploration of their career field,'' said Dr. Horn.  

The program has also expanded its offerings with the addition of two more academies, pushing the number of academies from seven to nine at Birmingham high schools.   

Parker High School now has a new Health Sciences Academy in addition to its Urban Educator Academy. Jackson-Olin High School, which already has a Health Sciences Academy, has added an Information Technology Academy. Students will learn coding, computer programming and other skills in the Information Technology Academy at Jackson-Olin.  

Broad partnerships established with the business and nonprofit communities have made a tremendous impact on the academies by offering mentorships, training and job experience. Some of those partnerships are with Regions Bank, Brasfield & Gorrie, Alabama Power Co., UAB Health Systems, the Rotary Club of Birmingham and the Birmingham Education Foundation.  

Dr. Horn noted that all of the academies are nationally certified, and students must apply to be accepted. Each year, there's a pinning ceremony for inductees.

This summer, the National Academy Foundation recognized two of the academies as stellar academies. They are the Academy of Business and Finance at Woodlawn High School and the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism at Wenonah High.