Pilot academies at Caroline High report early wins on attendance and discipline; board seeks expanded business partnerships

District leaders presented a mid-year update on the Achieve 2027 academies pilot at the Jan. 13 school board meeting, describing three academies — Leads (leadership and service), STARS (skills trade and applied resource solutions) and EDGE (entrepreneurship and technology) — and early student outcomes.

Dr. Connolly, principal and academy lead, said the academies align career pathways and credentials to student interests and local workforce needs: "Students in this pathway may earn their CNA certification, their ASE certification, Certiport, as well as enroll in dual enrollment options," he said. He reported that, in the graduation cohort cited, students missing 10 or more days fell from 76 to 53 year over year, and major discipline referrals decreased from 227 to 95.

Melissa Fry, CTE associate principal, described student-driven identity work (naming, logos and competitions), guest-speaker engagements and a sponsorship plan that offers recognition and classroom support. She listed current partners supporting the academies, naming Bowling Green Health & Rehab, Caroline Fire & Rescue, Atlantic Builders, Habitat for Humanity, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative and others; recent new sponsors include SimVentions, James River Equipment, Kaser Compressors and Wawa.

Board members encouraged clearer sponsor return-on-investment language and suggested regional outreach and templates used by other divisions. Dr. Connolly emphasized staffing and transportation as immediate needs if the academies scale: "We are going to need additional staff to support the core classes as well as our CTE pathways," he said.

Why it matters
Administrators linked the academies’ early outcomes to the district’s attendance and discipline goals and to career-readiness objectives under the Achieve 2027 strategic plan. If staffing and transportation needs are met, the academies are designed to expand work-based learning and credential attainment that could lead directly to employment or postsecondary opportunities.

What’s next
District leaders plan to formalize sponsor agreements, continue student engagement activities, refine budgeted staffing requests for FY26 and report progress in coming board updates. Board members were invited to help with outreach to regional employers and business organizations.