Big news for Chief Sealth International High School, reported by its academy coordinator Gary Perkins:

This past week (July 9th-12th) in Orlando, Florida, Chief Sealth International High School was recognized as having two of the top career and vocational academies in the country.

The Academy of Business, which includes both an Academy of Finance and Academy of Hospitality & Tourism program, was awarded “Model Status” by the National Academy Foundation (NAF), an award given to only a select number of business academies in the country. NAF is a leader in the movement to prepare young people for college and career success and operates in more than 600 academies across the 50 states. For over 30 years, NAF has refined a proven educational model which included industry-focused curricula, work-based learning experience, and business partner expertise. Employees of more than 2,500 companies volunteer in classrooms, act as mentors, engaged NAF student in paid internships and serve on local advisory boards.

There are only eight academies in the state of Washington and two of those are located at Sealth. The Academy of Finance and Hospitality & Tourism programs have a long history at Sealth at over 22 and 14 years, respectively but this is the 1st year that Sealth has qualified for the award. In 2013, 100% of approximately 70 seniors that participated in the two academies graduated on time and over 95% have post secondary plans. In addition, more than 40 of those seniors were able to complete paid summer internships their junior year with an economic benefit of approximately $75,000.

In the picture (L-R) are Gary Perkins (teacher), DeAira Handugan (teacher), Pamela Mushen (teacher) and Joanne Patrick (academy director for Seattle Public Schools).

You can find out more about the program by e-mailing Perkins at gaperkins@seattleschools.org. CSIHS’s course catalog for next year and other info is on the school website here.