ACES LATE Application for the Class of 2030

ACES Recruitment Presentation

The Academy for Careers in Engineering and Science (ACES) began its first full year of operation during the 2018-2019 school year on the Oak Ridge High School Ninth Grade Campus. As a result, students in the Graduating Class of 2031 have the opportunity to be part of the tenth class of the Academy for Careers in Engineering and Science (ACES). Along with the other two CISD Academies (The Academy of Science and Technology and the Academy for Science and Health Professions), the Academy for Careers in Engineering and Science offers a core curriculum of STEM courses, research and exploration opportunities, and internship options. However, as with the two other Academies, ACES has taken the opportunity to customize offerings beyond core requirements, and, thus, take on a unique culture of its own. Moreover, because of the alternating block schedule and unique offerings that exist at Oak Ridge High School, especially in relation to the engineering design program and Health Science Program, ACES will have the capacity to accept a class of 100 students. In addition, since students have the opportunity to enroll in eight courses per year on the block schedule, students should be able to meet Academy requirements and pursue other extracurricular interests throughout their high school years.

While a STEM Academy Program may not be a good fit for every student, such programs do provide unique and rigorous learning experiences in a close knit 'school within a school' environment. In my experience, students have the opportunity to develop strong connections to each other without becoming totally socially isolated. In essence, Academy students are grouped together for their Academy courses but have the opportunity to interact with other students in their humanities, language and elective courses. The model we utilize is supportive but not constraining.

Academy program requirements are designed to insure a high level of rigor based on the utilization of a college readiness model of instruction. This approach gradually shapes course work to resemble college level courses during students’ junior and senior years of instruction. As a result, the transition to collegiate study is less challenging for students.

ACES offers extensive opportunities for specialization in mathematics, engineering, science and other related areas including animal science, robotics, health science and computer science. These course opportunities should foster interest in STEM study and help encourage students to explore and apply their interests and abilities in an enriched learning environment. In the end, the primary purpose of all of our CISD Academies, including ACES, is to maintain students in the STEM Pipeline to collegiate level STEM study.

The academic requirements for ACES are straightforward. Each year, Academy students must complete at least three academy courses, the majority of which are already required for graduation. In practice, most students choose to exceed this minimum during their junior and senior years. Furthermore, the extensive course catalog at Oak Ridge High School allows us to continually broaden our elective offerings, fulfilling Academy credits on a highly individualized basis.

Beyond standard coursework, students must enroll in a research and problems activity course for local credit each year. This requirement can be satisfied through various avenues, including science fair, robotics, HOSA, computer science competitions, UIL academic events, or other interest-driven activities.

To round out their experience over the four years of high school, students are required to complete 14 exploration credits, which are earned through field trips, guest speakers, seminars, and meetings. Finally, students must complete an internship in a career field of their choice and accumulate a minimum of 100 hours of community service.

All of these requirements and the CISD Academy Model represent research based approaches designed to foster interest in STEM study and maintain students in the STEM Pipeline. In addition, these efforts are similar to approaches utilized by most member STEM schools of the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools of which all CISD STEM Academies are members.

If you are seeking a challenging and rigorous academic environment with a strong focus on STEM education in a small school environment within a larger school setting, then the Academy for Careers in Engineering and Science might be for you. In addition, we have a strong commitment to producing well rounded students who participate in a variety of extracurricular activities while pursuing a strong academic program. I hope students and parents alike will seriously consider making application to the Academy for Careers in Engineering and Science. I look forward to meeting you in the future. Please contact our Academy office with any additional questions or inquiries.

Deborah Shepard
ACES Headmaster

Eligibility:

All students who will be in 9th grade at Oak Ridge HS, Grand Oaks HS, College Park HS, or The Woodlands HS in August 2027 are eligible to apply for admission to the Academy Class of 2031. All students are provided the opportunity to apply. There is no additional cost for attending the Academy.

The online application will be available October 1, 2026.

Application Submission Deadline: October 30, 2026

The application must be received by October 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Applications received after this date will be considered only on a space available basis.