john muir high school reinvention

In September 2008, a restructured John Muir High School in Northwest Pasadena opened with four themed learning academies: Freshman Success; Arts, Media & Entertainment; Business & Entrepreneurship; and Engineering & Environmental Science. In addition to providing academic instruction in core subjects such as math, language arts, science and social studies, the academies are intended to connect classroom lessons to real world experiences and expose students to a variety of professions.

The academies are the result of the school’s intensive reinvention process. Muir had been on the verge of state takeover due to years of low achievement. Flintridge staff served on the reinvention team and played a key role in helping to build community support for the endeavor. This included coordinating over 50 meetings for a wide range of stakeholders and hosting three convenings just for parents. With the extensive outreach efforts, community members overwhelmingly agreed to support the high school’s restructuring.

All incoming 9th graders are required to attend the Freshman Success Academy, which is designed to prepare them for academic success in high school and beyond. The academy also provides intervention for students who need additional help transitioning to a high school environment. The 10th through 12th graders have their choice of the other three career academies. The academy themes were selected based on student interest surveys and teacher focus groups, as well as on partnership opportunities with local businesses, colleges and community organizations for meaningful hands-on learning experiences for the students.

Photo: Courtesy of Mustangs on the Move