The first of Utah's six high-tech charter high schools "broke ground" today at Cottonwood High School, and the school has proven so popular already that some prospective students have been turned away.
Some 350 students from more than 12 Salt Lake area schools have applied for one of 250 spots at the Academy for Math, Engineering and Science. The academy, expected to open in the fall, is part of Gov. Mike Leavitt's New Century High School Initiative.
The student body, chosen by lottery, represents a diverse group. Fifty-two percent are female; 55 percent Caucasian, 19 percent Hispanic, 9 percent Pacific Islander, 4 percent Asian, 3 percent African American and American Indian. One percent of students marked "other" ethnicity; 6 percent did not respond.
Students believe the school will push them academically.
"I'm hoping to learn more than I normally would during the school year," said Josh Short, who will enter the academy in the fall as a ninth-grader and hopes to someday design a space shuttle for NASA. "They're offering a higher curriculum than I'm getting at my original school . . . and I would be learning it from professors that are at the college level."
The academy, a partnership between Salt Lake City and Granite school districts and the University of Utah, will include coursework and visiting professors from the U. in classes with no more than 25 students.
Incoming sophomore Karli Martin believes small classes will help her improve math skills, and eventually prepare her for veterinary work. "It will be challenging, but I like that."
Charter schools, allowed in Utah under a 1998 law, offer choices within the public school system. They have their own governing boards and some freedom in curriculum.
The academy plans to make its home in unused space on Cottonwood's south side and other campus classrooms. It will open its doors in the fall to 250 ninth- and 10th-graders — 125 students in each grade — and expand to encompass 500 students in ninth through 12th grades by the 2005-2006 school year.
The school's aim is rigor. Eleventh-graders will participate in internships. Seniors will work on individual research projects and develop portfolios and be mentored by community professionals.
The academy has received start-up support from the billion-dollar Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and is part of its Early College High School Initiative, a network of more than 70 high schools nationwide.
It is one of about 80 high school members of the National Consortium of Specialized Secondary Schools in Math, Science and Technology, allowing students to participate in national competitions, journals and conferences.
It also is part of a statewide initiative to enable students to graduate from high school with an associate's degree in hand, and help double the number of math, computer science and engineering students in Utah universities.
"Having a strong education system is not just a social and redeeming value, it's an economic imperative," said Gov. Mike Leavitt during groundbreaking ceremonies, which came about halfway through his thousand-day plan for economic renewal.
"We're training the technology-minded work force here," Leavitt said. "Economic leadership starts with this kind of innovation."
Student Rebecca Gutierrez, however, has career plans outside engineering. She wants to be a lawyer.
"But law itself doesn't mean I won't use science someday, or math or engineering," said Gutierrez, who will enter the academy as a ninth-grader.
The Cottonwood campus is one of six of the high-tech charter schools allowed under state law. Others will set up by the Jordan School District and Salt Lake Community College. Two more charter schools have been approved to open in fall 2004. They are partnerships between Jordan School District and Salt Lake Community College, and between Davis and Ogden schools and Weber State University.
"We look forward to the dynamic interaction brought by motivated and creative students," academy principal Al Church said. "Learning is about doing, contributing and sharing; not sitting. I'm confident the new students are up to the challenge."
The academy is up for formal approval Friday by the State Board of Education. A board committee has recommended it receive the go-ahead.
Students can apply for waiting lists by visiting www.ames-slc.org or calling 801-588-6497.
E-MAIL: jtcook@desnews.com