Home to six different programs and 514 students, the Center for Academic Achievement offers high school students across the district access to Real World Learning opportunities and innovative learning techniques, helping students explore career opportunities and bettering them for the future.

Opening in 2017, the building offers a culinary program connected to The Broadmoore Bistro, giving fundamental Food Safety and Sanitation certifications and Customer service experience by serving staff and visitors their class projects.

“I’ve always had a love for culinary, it started with my grandmother,” senior Logan Sommerla said. “We’d always go to her house for family gatherings. The way she brought people together really inspired me.”

The Culinary program connects to the Urban Agriculture and Sustainability program with the Broadmoore Urban Farm, growing ingredients in a large greenhouse to use in the kitchen. The program inspired senior Audrey Jennings to become an environmental scientist after a year in the program.

Starting their sophomore year, students are able to work towards their Nursing Aide Certification through the Medical Science program, also receiving a Teen Mental Health First Aid certification to add to their resume.

Second semester of her senior year, senior Ashley Cid Betancourt began her Clinical Rotations at Advent Health Hospital to explore the different types of practicing medicine. Cid Betancourt said that the rotations are fun and introduce a new environment she could see her future self in.

“Clinical investigation is a program designed for students that want to pursue a healthcare career,” Cid Betancourt said. “Although this class is competitive to get into, it’s an excellent program for anyone that is willing to put the work in and show consistency, commitment, and determination to succeed and to find out if your passion is with healthcare.”

With six different available engineering classes, students have a chance to work with others from different schools in the district, learn in a professional environment, and achieve a higher level of specialization in their classwork to prepare for college classes.

Students are also offered experience in Animation & Interactive Media with 2D Animation, 3D Modeling and various types of visual effects. The program allows for Internships and Client- Connected Projects through the student’s career of choice.

“You get a lot of hands on experience,” senior Bryan Dodson said. “You get to make a lot of things in these classes. It also helped me to learn more about how to make things that exist in reality.”