Academies at Jackson-Reed

Jackson-Reed High School's academies are small learning communities. They all offer:
  • Faculty and staff who get to know you and become your advocates
  • A chance to meet other students with interests like yours
  • Exciting choices for electives and extracurricular activities
  • Career development opportunities such as internships and shadow days
  • Field trips and community service project
Jackson-Reed High School has a total of 10 academies that are grouped under 3 directors.  To learn more about each academy, including an overview, its lead teachers and staff, and the required coursework, click on the director grouping below.

 

Apply to an Academy

Apply to join one of Jackson-Reed's Academies for the next school year.

  • It will go live at 6:00am on 2/1/2025 and will close at 5:00 pm on 9/5/2025.
  • Students are accepted on a first come, first serve basis while there is room. Once an academy's capacity is full, we'll indicate it on the application and subsequent students will be added to a waitlist.
  • Please note that applying for an academy is a separate process for enrolling at Jackson-Reed HS. Students cannot not be scheduled for their first-level academy class until they are fully enrolled at Jackson-Reed.

Get Involved!

Use your professional and career expertise to help Jackson-Reed Academy students. We are looking for guest speakers, field trip hosts, mentors, capstone project judges to help our students reach their potential.

Academies by Director

Academies under Director Tammy Lorenzo

Athletic Achievement Academy
Academy of Global Studies
Leadership Academy: Cybersecurity and JROTC

Academies under Director Regina McClure

Biomedical Academy
Engineering Academy
Information Technology Academy

Academies under Director Brandon Wims

Audio Video Production Academy
Academy of Graphic Design
Academy of Finance
Academy of Hospitality and Tourism

Academy Specific Information 

Athletic Achievement Academy

Interested in a career in sports communications, sports medicine, or sports management? Want to achieve academic success here at Jackson-Reed?

Audio Video Production Academy

Get the skills to work with high-end equipment and cutting-edge technology—and in exciting environments, too. Work settings include TV and radio stations, sporting events, concerts, film sets, recording studios, theaters, presentations and conferences.

Biomedical Academy

The Biomedical Academy is a PLTW academy, meaning that students gain a PLTW certification upon completion of the academy. Students learn about the systems of the body, diseases, and how to treat them through hands on projects and work-based learning.

Academy of Graphic Design

Graphic Design encompasses communication through visual and virtual means and is applicable in many industries and speaks to a growing need for new ways to exchange ideas and information through compelling media.

Engineering Academy

The Engineering Academy teaches students about the basics of Engineering and prepares them for a career in Engineering. The first two classes are designed to build a foundation of Engineering knowledge, and students can specialize and go deeper in a specific subject in the third course. The fourth course allows students to showcase their knowledge.

Academy of Finance

Course work gives students an introduction to the world of business and finance, accounting, entrepreneurship and corporate management. The program provides placements for student internships and summer jobs with the academy's partner organizations.

Academy of Global Studies

By learning about cultural differences, the impact of world affairs, the interdependence of countires and the ecologocial, technological and enconomic interdependene to gain an awareness of careers related to international affairs.

Academy of Hospitality and Tourism

The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT) prepares high school students to excel in college and compete in the global workforce. The field of hospitality and tourism is one of the world's largest industries and DC's fastest-growing one.

Information Technology Academy

The Information Technology academy inspires excellence in coding, computer design, and cybersecurity. The academy uses Project Lead The Way (PLTW) to guide students through the course.

Leadership Academy: Cybersecurity and JROTC

JROTC prepares young adults to become leaders in the school and the greater community. The course includes classroom and laboratory instruction in history, leadership styles, basic principles of management, financial management, developing a career portfolio, and service learning.