FAQs

This space is an attempt to answer frequently asked questions regarding the ACE Academy. To help answer your questions thoroughly, we've divided the FAQs into the following categories:

Schedule
Transportation & Other Logistics
Academics, and
College, Apprenticeships and Other Post High School Connections.

We currently have 170 students enrolled in ACE. Please do not hesitate to contact us directly for additional information.

SCHEDULE

How will I schedule my classes at ACE?

ACE will be providing instruction every day of the week. ACE provides an alternating AB schedule, as well as an AM/PM schedule, allowing students to attend both ACE and their home high school for their junior and senior years. We recommend you coordinate your schedule with assistance from your counselor.

How will I coordinate my ACE schedule with my home campus schedule?

Each student will be able to customize his/her schedule. In many ways, the ACE schedule mirrors your home high school. Schedules will vary slightly with respective school bus routes. The underlying principle is that when you come onto the ACE campus, you immediately begin your school day. There will always be individual activities to do and instruction provided.

Will I be able to participate in before and after school activities at my home campus?

Yes, you will be able to participate in extra-curricular activities. We believe in the importance of your having a rich and varied high school experience and will give you opportunities to make up missed work, even given our project-based learning setting.

Will I be able to be released from my ACE classes on the days I have sports or other school activities that require early release? How will I get back to my home campus in order to be ready for those activities?

We are committed to making that work for you—details to be arranged.

Will my school year at ACE match my home campus school schedule (including holidays and vacation days)? What about conference non-school days and teacher in-service days?

Your school year at ACE will be coordinated with the schedule of your home high school. The ACE school year schedule will be similar to our 5 partner high school schedules. If you attend one of our associate schools (i.e. Sandy, CLC, home and other schools), we will generate a workable schedule based on ACE’s daily program. You will receive an academic calendar prior to the start of the school year.

TRANSPORTATION & OTHER LOGISTICS

How will I get to ACE Academy?

Transportation is arranged with each district's Transportation Department. Schedules are available prior to the start of school.

Can I drive my car to ACE Academy?

We will have some parking space at the Carpenters Training Center—applications for parking permits are available in the ACE Academy office.

How will we travel between campuses?

We will provide all transportation between campuses and for all off-site learning activities and project work.

How will lunch work? Snacks?

Meals will be delivered by one of the ACE school districts—or, you may bring food from home. We will collect for breakfast and lunch and you’ll have a meal account, which is separate from your meal account at your home high school. If you qualify for free or reduced lunches, you’ll qualify at ACE. The charge for Breakfast is $1.00; Lunch is $2.25.

Are there extra costs to attend Ace Academy; i.e., lab costs, materials fees, book costs?

Other than regular home high school fees, we anticipate any expense at ACE to be minimal. Students will be expected to provide typical school supplies. As students progress into projects that require special attention to safety, students will need to have appropriate clothing (i.e. boots, work pants).

ACADEMICS

How will my classes be structured at ACE?

Instruction is centered around the activity. Academic subjects of math, English and science will be integrated into your daily learning. Instruction will be a series of projects with the applicable academic knowledge being integrated into those projects. Since the instruction will be based upon the activities, the presentation of academic subjects such as math, English, and science will not be delivered in traditional pre-structured time frames. The amount of time for each instruction unit spent on a particular subject might vary based upon the needs of individual students.

What about working in groups?

The ACE program is designed to help students learn how to maximize the experience of working together, just as teaming in the workplace does. We are providing learning opportunities that are similar to real world work environments. There are times when you work in collaborative teams and other times when you will work individually. The project will be evaluated by the collective results as well as by the contributions of each individual team member.

Is there homework?

There are times, in work and in learning, when you need to review what you’ve learned, practice your learning and be prepared for the following day’s activities. In those cases, there will be homework. In addition, a number of our projects will be ongoing so students can continue their work on those projects to enhance their learning.

How will I receive grades? Credit?

Grades will be posted to your home school's transcripts and progress grades will be posted to your regular home school's report card. Grades and credits will be based on proficiency, (i.e. proof of your knowledge of the subject by your ability to do the work.) Students will have identified their respective learning outcomes with each unit of instruction, all of which will be approved by a teacher.

What credits will I earn in my two years at ACE?

You’ll earn a credit of math, science, two credits of English, and five credits of career and technical education, which can include classes in architecture, construction or engineering.

Will I be able to take electives at ACE? At my home campus?

Students will be able to select their areas of interest in which to specialize in architecture, construction or engineering. Most students will have numerous course opportunities through ACE and their home high schools.

What graduation requirements will I fulfill at ACE?

Your academic plan will be coordinated by your home campus counselor along with ACE staff to ensure that all graduation requirements are met and you are fully prepared for the next steps in your chosen career path. Over the two years at ACE, you will earn your credits for a 3rd year of math, a 3rd year of science, 3rd and 4th years of English, all career-related learning standards, and senior / capstone project (applied learning).

Will I do my senior/capstone project at ACE? Will it take the place of the one I would have done at my home high school?

The benefit of ACE’s program is applied learning. Students will meet their senior/capstone projects through ACE with coordination for any specific requirements from home high schools.

COLLEGE, APPRENTICESHIPS AND OTHER POST HIGH SCHOOL CONNECTIONS

Will my work at ACE help me gain entry into an apprenticeship program?

Students interested in applying for any of the construction trades’ apprenticeship programs upon graduation from ACE will have a clear and direct pathway along with a strong competitive advantage for entry.

What if I choose a two or four-year college program as my next step after high school?

If you choose college as a next step, we will help you build into your academic plan all of the coursework that you will need for a strong entry into the two or four-year college/university program you choose, including architecture, engineering and construction management. In fact, your academic resume, including your completed projects and other experiential learning accomplishments, will give you a competitive advantage over other applicants.

What if I want to enter straight into the workforce?

ACE will prepare you for immediate entry into the workforce, if that is your choice. ACE will help you plan for continued learning on the job as well as help you identify employers who can help you pay for continued training or college education.

Can I earn college credits at ACE? Early College Opportunities (ECO)

ACE plans to offer college credit gained in your senior English class, senior engineering curriculum, and senior architecture curriculum. We are working with local community colleges to offer credits in other areas and to establish articulation agreements for ACE programs with existing college programs.