See “About 21st Century Academies”

The academies are designed to be completed in four years in order to give students full access to course options and extended learning activities.

• Academies focus on specialized career field
• Specialized coursework — four-year plan of study
• Amazing specialized equipment
• Hands-on experiences inside and outside of the classroom
• Special real-world opportunities including competitions, field trips, volunteer hours, senior projects, internships and special events.
• Experiences enriched by many partners!

Any student that resides within the Olathe Public School boundaries and will be enrolled full time in one of the in-person Olathe High Schools beginning in the ninth grade, may apply as an 8th grade student. If the student is invited and they accept, they will attend the high school where that academy is located, full time.

The 21st Century High School Academies were developed in response to community input. During the 1999-2000 school year, the district conducted focus groups of more than 400 stakeholders on the necessary ingredients of a 21st century education. Participants included parents, high school faculty and other district staff, students, business partners, representatives of higher education, and the community. Focus groups agreed on these themes:

• make classroom learning relevant to the outside world;
• focus on the global workplace;
• recognize the broad-based role of technology;
• promote the importance of citizenship and character; and
• provide flexibility of schedule and interactive instructional methodology.

Learn about the application process here

A student interested in applying for an academy will fill out an online application during the application period.

Once the form is submitted, students are contacted by the academy facilitator and an interview is arranged with the students and parents/guardian to go over interests, academy requirements and suggested course enrollment.

Students will enroll in high school, as a full-time student, where the academy is housed. Please note: academy acceptance serves as a student’s transfer application. A separate transfer request form is not needed.

Learn about the application process here

Application for enrollment in a four-year academy begins in the fall of eighth grade for students entering their freshman year of high school the following year. The application window opens the day after the Eighth Grade Career Expo in late October and closes before winter break. Applicants are interviewed and notifications are sent out in January.

If there is the slightest interest, please apply. A student can always decline an invitation to an academy in January if they don’t feel it is a good fit. If a student does not apply, they don’t have the opportunity to find out more about the academies through the application process.

Sophomores may be eligible to apply on a space-available basis and all HS credits are earned at that point in time. Email the facilitator directly to inquire about space availability.

Yes, students enrolled in a four-year 21st Century High School Academy attend full-time at the high school where the academy is located. They participate in all extra and co-curricular activities at the transfer high school.

Please visit the bus transportation webpage on the district website.

The number of students in each academy is determined by the size of the facility. The facility size determines the number of seats available. Please click on this link to view the current enrollment data.

Please see the Transfer Student Athletic Eligibility policy

Students who accept an invitation may change their mind before the last Thursday in June. This allows academies to offer the spot to a student on the wait list and get student busing and schedules re-arranged prior to registration day at the end of July.

Students enrolled in a 21st Century High School Academy who decide they do not wish to continue in the academy, after the start of school, are asked to complete one school year before they are eligible to withdraw from an academy. It is asked that students use that first year to transition not only to high school but to their academy. Additionally, the student has occupied a spot in the academy. At the end of the year, if the student still wishes to return to their boundary high school, they will go through the withdraw process. A student returning to their boundary high school will still be on track with necessary course work for completion of high school and entry to Qualified Admissions, Regents institutions.

NOTE: A student who withdraws from an academy and is approved to remain at their transfer high school will lose transportation fee waiver.

Please view the Sample Contract at the bottom of this page.

Please see the Transfer Student Athletic Eligibility policy

Students participating in the four-year 21st Century High School Academies are eligible to earn an endorsement if they complete the all the requirements. The endorsement is marked on the student's high school transcript.

There are three levels of endorsement a student can earn:

• Endorse
• Endorse with Honors
• Endorse with High Honors

Read more about endorsements

View the Academy IPS and Endorsement Requirements Documents

Ten of our 15 Academies have a Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway embedded in them. This means the courses they already take in the Academy also follow a CTE pathway. When a student earns an Academy Endorsement by completing all the requirements they will ALSO earn a "CTE Completer" status. Both the Academy Endorsement and the CTE Completer status will be printed on the student's transcript. These are great tools on the resume to show a student's accomplishments. Additionally, CTE Completers are eligible for CTE Scholars recognition.

Read more about Career and Technical Education

CTE Completer is a special notation on a student's transcript that indicates the student was part of a Career and Technical Education Pathway and attained a certain level of specialized accomplishments. A CTE completer has earned a minimum of 3.0 credits of CTE courses in a single pathway plus earned an industry recognized certification or passed a third-party end of pathway assessment.

Students in an academy with a CTE pathway may earn an Academy Endorsement and a CTE Completer notation on their high school transcript. A CTE Completer may also be eligible for CTE Scholars Award.

This recognizes well-rounded outstanding CTE students finishing their senior year. Kansas CTE Scholars receive a commemorative pin, a special certificate and statewide recognition. There are seven criteria to complete

• Senior level status
• Earned 3.0 or more CTE credits with documentation of technical skill attainment
• GPA of 3.5 or better in CTE coursework
• Demonstrated leadership
• Civic engagement or outstanding community service
• Work Place Experience
• Career Vision Summary statement

Please read more about CTE Scholars on the CTE website