Fairfax Academy for Communications and the Arts is designed to provide students throughout Fairfax County Public Schools to take advanced courses in areas such as musical theatre and acting, dance, fashion design, music composition, and foreign languages. In the past few years, the Academy has added courses such as social media marketing, game development and design, and American Sign Language.
With over 1300 students from 17 schools across the county and hundreds of students on a waitlist, the Academy has doubled its student population in the past five years. This year, the Academy is paying a special focus on Work-Based Learning (WBL). WBL provides students with a continuum of career-related experiences that extend classroom learning to support the development of career goals in preparation for education and employment beyond high school. “We want our students to engage in skills that will impact their college experience and eventual careers,” said Cook.
The Academy is developing relationships with local businesses and leaders to find internships, speakers, and participants in a performing arts career day this spring. Also new this year, a Pro Photo course that is tailored to provide specific skills for employment with a portrait photographer as soon as the student graduates.
This past week, the Academy held one of its annual Career Expo days, with guest speakers, and seminars to help students write a resume and network with a group of strangers. “Each year we keep looking forward and asking the questions about what our students will need,” said Cook.