Hawai`i Academies Learning Communities

Graduation Learning Communities are designed to ensure that in large high schools, every student’s academic needs, interests, and aspirations are addressed by teachers who are well acquainted with their students.

Hawai`i Academies (HA) school learning communities are organized as academic academies centered around related careers. Curriculum and instruction for these career academies are structured around career pathways developed by the Hawai`i State Department of education (HIDOE) working with the workforce community and the University of Hawai`i. Operational instruction practices for these academies are guided by a set of national standards of practices for career academies developed by the National Career Academy Coalition, a nationally recognized organization dedicated to the development and support of career academies.

HA's learning communities remain where possible as a small learning community (SLC) for multiple school years starting with grade 10 through grade 12. This maximizes familiarity between teachers, administrators and students.

These familiarizations help to:

Personalize education for all students
Give equal opportunities to learn with rigorous and relevant curriculum Provide a support system of teachers and adults who advocate academic and personal success for all
students
Prepare students for a wide range of post-secondary options
Are based on research findings that suggest high school students demonstrate higher degrees of success when they receive attention as part of smaller learning groups. Smaller school environments positively affect student achievement, including higher grades, test scores, attendance rates, graduation rates, reduction in drug and alcohol use, and overall improvement in school safety.

Note that not all schools are structured or operate this way either by choice or are currently in transition into this structure and operation.

National Career Academy Coalition Certified Academies

The National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC) provides collaborative support and resources for existing and emerging career academies. The NCAC certifies career academies that meet performance standards based on the National Standards of Practice (NSOP) developed by the NCAC. The following Hawai`i Academy school career academies are NCAC certified academies:

Hawai`i Academies School National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC) Certified Academies

James B. Castle High School	Freshman Academy
Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High School	Health Academy
Kaimuki High School	Hospitality Academy
Kapa’a High School	Freshmen Hui Academy (May 2021)
Pearl City High School	Academy of Culinary Arts, Health Sciences & Leadership - NCAC Model Academy with Distinction Academy of International Business & Design - NCAC Model Academy with Distinction Academy of Technology & Design - NCAC Model Academy with Distinction
Waiakea High School	Academy of Industry & Technology - NCAC Model Academy Arts & Communication Academy - NCAC Certified Academy Health Services Academy - NCAC Model Academy Public Services Academy - NCAC Model Academy
Waimea High School	Freshmen Academy (Fall 2019)
Waipahu High School	Academy of Arts & Communication - NCAC Model Academy Academy of Natural Resources - NCAC Model Academy of Distinction Academy of Industrial & Engineering Technology - NCAC Model Academy with Distinction Academy of Professional & Public Services - NCAC Model Academy with Distinction Academy of Health & Sciences - NCAC Model Academy with Distinction Ohana of Excellence Academy - NCAC Model Academy

Learning Communities

SY 2020 - 2021