Vineyard Academy, one of Windsor High School’s four California Partnership Academies (CPA), has just been named as a 2019 Distinguished California Partnership Academy. This award, given to fewer than 2 percent of the CPAs across California, honors programs who embody a strong focus on academics blended with career technical education.
The Vineyard Academy, which began in 2003, offers students instruction that prepares them not only for college, but also offers them an opportunity to explore careers in hospitality and cuisine. Students take traditional courses in English and History, but also explore the culinary arts, business finance and event planning, to name a few. Vineyard is one of the many focus areas available to Windsor High School juniors and seniors.
The 2019 Distinguished Academy award honors CPA programs that meet criteria designed to help best prepare students for life beyond high school. In addition to having a strong academic focus with high graduation rates, the CPA should benefit students who might fall into at-risk groups.
Academies that are honored must offer students a chance to earn industry certifications. Students must be able to earn post-secondary credits while still enrolled in high school. There also needs to be strong industry partnerships within the community. Finally, programs are also evaluated on having a low attrition rate, where students stay with the program for the whole cycle.
Windsor High School is proud to share that Vineyard Academy will be recognized at the CPA/Educating for Careers Conference in early March.
-Submitted by Stacy Desideri, Windsor High School principal
