Plano ISDAcademy High School, commonly referred to as Academy High School, is a STEAM, interdisciplinary and project-based learninghigh school. The school serves students from grades 9-12. This school is not a regular secondary school because this school uses a selection process to draw eighth graders from various middle schools in Plano ISD. The school is an alternative to the regular high school experience by offering collaborative team projects, more STEAM classes and the ability to attend classes without structured class periods. This school is one of the three Academy Programs in Plano ISD. The others are the Plano ISD Health Sciences Academy and The IB World School at Plano East.
Campus
The building is a three-story, former office building that belonged to Bell South, and later, AT&T. In the summer of 2013, the PISD renovated the building and turned the building into a creative learning school. The school is an open floor plan school with classrooms that are dubbed Learning Spaces. There are three science labs, a fabrication lab, three presentation rooms, library, and conference rooms. The school also contains two dedicated soundproof rooms for student and club use.
Curriculum
The Plano Academy was designed for experimental project learning and advanced studies. Students graduating by senior year will have at least two endorsements. As part of the curriculum, all students graduate with the same coursework. There is 1:1 technology at the Academy. Some notable projects include making a Moon magazine, creating an Orange company, designing school curriculum, and launching projectiles. The tenth graders have the option to attend seminars, not classes. Students are able to work independently with their group with less teacher interference. Junior and seniors will also take courses offered by Collin College, that is college credit and high school credit, similar to Advanced Placement. At the end of the week, each grade-level facilitators award best learner and best team for effort during the past week.
Academics
The school offers the basic classes required to graduate in the state of Texas. It also offers optional classes; calculus, Spanish, French, and digital media.
History
The Academy Visioning Committee started designing the plan for the school in 2010. Texas Instruments, Huawei, and other companies, endowed the new school. In 2013, PISD held a lottery to determine which students are able to attend. In the first year of Academy's opening, students were learning multiple classes combined into a single project. Student-led organizations and PTSA also hosted several fundraising and school events such as the Winter Social, and the paintball tournament. The Academy has also allowed visitors from around the Dallas community to see the school's learning environment. The Academy's first graduating class graduated in the spring of 2016.
Clubs
The Academy offers over 20 clubs. Most clubs meet during school time. NHS and student council meet after school each week as well. Clubs include journalism, film, solar car, and many other interests.
Robotics Club
The won the Rookie All-Star Award at the 2015 Dallas Regional FRC Competition. Team 5431 went on to Nationals in St. Louis, Missouri and made to Carver Field Quarterfinals. Titan Robotics entered in the Lone Star and Dallas Regional FRC competition in 2016. Team 5431 went on to Nationals in St. Louis, Missouri and made to Carver Field Quarterfinals. In 2017, Titan Robotics competed in the FIRST Steamworks competition, going to the Dallas and Brazos Valley regionals. They were wild-carded and went on to Nationals in Houston and made it to the Hopper field playoffs.
