Focus Academy High School

 

The curriculum at Focus Academy is structured with dual purposes: academic achieveme​nt and social success.  Many students are scholastically capable but are hindered by struggles in dealing with peers.  We offer differentiated, individualized instruction, but emphasize a full school experience including creative arts,  physical education, field trips, and state of the art technology.  

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Focus Academy utilizes the Access Points curriculum, a modified curriculum which tailors instruction to each student's academic level and goals. This curriculum choice also allows for more flexibility in teaching -- as well as in learning. Students participate in State testing at the end of each year utilizing the Florida Alternative Assessment. End of Course exams are also administered as required.

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• Academic achievement based on student abilities and interests

• Differentiated, personalized instruction

• Community-based instruction and experiences

• Emphasis on increasing independence

• Relationship building

• State of the art technology

• Creative arts including art and music

• Computer coding and culinary arts

• Drama therapy

• Physical education

• A full middle school and high school experience

• Transition Program for workplace training and life skills

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Based on careful research on how adolescents and young adults learn best, the Focus Academy school day begins at 8:45 a.m. Students attend academic classes in the morning, break for lunch, then spend the afternoon in a variety of electives. Brain breaks are interspersed throughout the day. The school day ends at 3:45 p.m.

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Rigorous academics are an important part of the curriculum at Focus Academy. Students are regularly assessed to gauge their progress in subject areas. Reading and math scores routinely gain an average of one to one and a half grade levels over the course of the year at Focus Academy. In many cases, students have remained at the same grade level in both of these subject areas for years without any progress at their previous schools. 

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Parents are encouraged to log in to our school's student information system to check on student assignments and grades. Daily planners and notes home are also routinely used to keep parents informed of student progress.

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An emphasis on moving toward independence is a primary component of the Focus Academy program, and begins on the very first day of school. Students learn strategies for self-advocacy and build self-esteem through mastering these skills, enabling them to move seamlessly into the Transition Program.