Fern Creek High launches as 15th Academies of Louisville school

Academies include engineering/ computer science, communications and community/service           

Fern Creek High School has officially launched as an Academies of Louisville school today, becoming the 15th high school within Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) to join the initiative.

JCPS officials, business partners and Fern Creek students and staff gathered at the school on Sept. 12 to celebrate the announcement. 

Business partners sign at Fern Creek

“I’m thrilled to be here today to launch our 15th Academies of Louisville school, and celebrate another school stepping up to the plate to say that they are ready to see high school differently,” said JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio.  “We are transforming the way we do high school because we know students are more engaged when they are passionate about what they’re learning and when they can see how it relates to the real world.”

The school will offer three career academies: an Engineering and Computer Science Academy, Education, Community & Service Academy, and Communications Academy.

As part of the celebration, Fern Creek’s first Academies business partners signed on to support the programs: Maeser Plumbing, Fern Creek Fire Department and Mark’s Feed Store Fern Creek. Students also conducted hands-on learning demonstrations to showcase the skills they’re building.

The Academies of Louisville are preparing, inspiring and empowering students by offering a new kind of educational experience — one that shifts from traditional techniques and environments to provide meaningful, relevant learning experiences that directly relate to a 21st century workforce.  The Academies model mixes career-oriented classes with core content courses like math and English to develop skills and interest in certain fields. 

“School just started about a month ago and already I’ve noticed changes that prove the Academies of Louisville really are something different,” said Krissy Taylor, a Fern Creek Academies student and senior class president. “We have new teachers from different industries who are teaching our Pathway courses, which is really cool because they’re teaching us skills and giving us information that directly relates to real careers and real workplaces.  I’m seeing more and more the ways that even regular classes like math, English, and history relate to the real world and can really be used in different career fields.”