Sir Francis Drake High School

San Anselmo
www.drake.marin.k12.ca.us

Sir Francis Drake High School, in Marin County, offers students a chance to participate in one of five academies that act as "schools within a school." These academies are part of the Drake Integrated Studies Curricula and emphasize small class sizes and a cross-disciplinary, project-based, student-centered approach. Freshmen and sophomores can participate in the Revolution of Core Knowledge (ROCK) program, which is not technically an academy but serves as a foundation for students who want to participate in the academies in their junior and senior years. ROCK emphasizes time management, higher-order thinking skills, and interpersonal competencies necessary for the workplace.

The academies each consist of an 11th and 12th-grade cohort, providing students the continuity of working with a team of teachers for two years. The academies fall into two categories: science/math and liberal arts. The science/math academies adhere to a strict curriculum and use projects to enhance understanding. The liberal arts academies, on the other hand, regularly adjust curriculum to meet the needs of project concepts. Students who participate in these academies must meet the same academic standards as the rest of the student body.

An example of a science/math academy is Survey of Engineering, which integrates physics, sculpture/design, drafting, electronics, and an engineering projects class. This academy requires students to apply academic concepts from mathematics and physics to solve real-world engineering problems.

An example of a liberal arts academy is the Communications Academy, which integrates academic and artistic interests in a project-based program. Arts instruction includes drama, digital audio and video production, and web page design. Students also operate Electric Stage Productions, a school-based nonprofit production company.