Community leaders gathered at the Speed Art Museum yesterday to celebrate the completion of a successful school year for the JCPS Academies of Louisville. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio, Sarah Davasher-Wisdom of Greater Louisville, Inc., Michael Gritton of KentuckianaWorks, and others were on hand to spotlight the outstanding employer partnerships that are driving innovation at 15 of Louisville’s public high schools.
the data is clear: the academies of louisville are making a positive impact
“Our graduation rates currently are the highest they have been since the inception of the Academies of Louisville in 2017, and our dropout rates are the lowest,” said Dr. Joe Ellison, the Assistant Superintendent for High Schools at JCPS.
Dr. Ellison went on to report that there has been a 55% increase in postsecondary readiness among their students since they adopted the Academies of Louisville model. The schools have also more than doubled the number of industry certifications awarded during that stretch, and dramatically expanded student access to dual credit courses, job shadowing and industry tour opportunities, and guest lectures in the classroom.
Photo: Mayor Greenberg (center) accepts award on behalf of Louisville Metro Government, a partner of the Academies of Louisville for more than five years. He is joined by JCPS Superintendent Pollio and President & CEO of Greater Louisville Inc, Sarah Davasher-Wisdom.
“We can’t maximize our potential as a city without nurturing and developing the talents of our young people from every neighborhood and background.”
JCPS adopted the Academies education model in 2017, with the goal to align high school career pathways with major areas of economic growth. More than 18,000 students across 15 of JCPS’s 16 comprehensive high schools are now part of these career academies, which include Health Sciences, Information Technology, Media Arts, Civil Service, Skilled Trades, and many others.
“We’re proud of our students, staff and community partners who have made the Academies of Louisville a true success story for our city,” said Superintendent Pollio. “JCPS students are learning skills that they are taking with them to postsecondary schools or directly into the workplace. Our graduates are ready and able to fill the high demand jobs to keep Louisville moving forward.”
More than 200 businesses are helping offer career pathway-style learning at Louisville public high schools
The work of the Academies is supported by 215 signed business and community partners that provide students hands-on learning opportunities. In addition to their high school diploma, Academy students graduate with college credits, industry certifications, real-world work experience, and a post-secondary plan.
At the celebration event, special recognition was given to businesses that have partnered with the Academies for five years or more, including GE Appliances, UPS, Norton Healthcare, and Class Act Federal Credit Union.
KentuckianaWorks, the Louisville region’s workforce development board, and Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI), the Metro Chamber of Commerce, hosted the event. They have been leaders in working with JCPS to help recruit and integrate business partners into the Academies of Louisville.
“On behalf of the business community and our 1,800 members, GLI is thrilled to continue to support the Academies of Louisville and its mission to prepare, inspire, and empower students for the careers of the future,” said Sarah Davasher-Wisdom, president and CEO of Greater Louisville Inc. “The competition for skilled talent is higher than ever, and the Academies are educating emerging talent for the real-world, and building pipelines to fill high-wage jobs that GLI continues to bring to the region. This initiative is critical for our regional economy to grow and is also critical to helping our emerging talent reach their full potential.”
To learn more about the Academies of Louisville at JCPS, visit www.jefferson.kyschools.us/academies-louisville.
