A Stem Academy would offer college associate degrees while students are in high school.

Dr. Tony Brads, School Superintendent for Botetourt County Public Schools provided an update on the proposed STEM Academy for the Botetourt School Division. Students would attend their home high school and also attend classes at Greenfield Education and Training Center in the proposal. The Botetourt View reported the possibility after the September 13 school board meeting. Read that story here. 

Brads had the following information as the project  moves forward:

-Initial plan is to implement year 1 and year 2 of each program.

- School division is working very closely with VWCC (and Jefferson College of Health Sciences) to prepare and staff the courses set for the program level.

- School division long term plan ( as they approach the  implementation of the four year program) is that STEM-H Academy participates in conjunction with courses taken at their  home school and/or distance learning, the division will be able to attain an Associates degree.

-Transfer programs: The Associates of Arts (AA) and Associates of Science (AS) degree programs are specifically designed for students who want to transfer to a senior institution( four year college or university.)

- Occupational/Technical Degree Programs: Although the Associate of Applied Science occupational technical degree programs are designed for students who want to enter the job market, some of these programs can also be used to prepare a student for transfer to a four year college or university.

Currently there are plans information for three areas in the proposed STEM Academy at GETC. They are Health Occupations which will ultimately result in either an AAS or AS; Computer and Mathematics Occupations an AS; Computer and Mathematical Operations with an AAS. Obviously all classes would result in college credits as well as toward the high school diploma.

Brads said, ” We are excited about the possibility of this coming to fruition in our division. ”