NAF released its ratings for 2017 as four Porterville Unified School District Pathways earned Distinguished status, the top mark possible for a single program. Each program is assessed by NAF staff and given an overall score based on four categories: academy development and structure, advisory board, curriculum and instruction, and work-based learning.
“I am impressed with the continuous PUSD Pathways focus on high quality,” Director of PUSD Pathways Cindy Brown said. “The excellent work of the Pathway staff, community partners and students is reflective in Pathway certification results and efforts to make the Pathways program better with every year.”
The four PUSD Distinguished Pathways are the Academy of Engineering (AOE) and Academy of Performing Arts (APA) at Harmony Magnet Academy, and the Academy of Finance (PAB) and Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS) at Porterville High School.
This year, NAF added Model status as a new category, which is one level below Distinguished status and one level above Certified status. Three PUSD Pathways moved up to the new Model status: Emerging Agricultural Technology (EAT) at Strathmore High School, Environmental Sciences Academy (ESA) at Monache High School, and Law, Justice and Ethics (LJE) at Granite Hills High School.
The Multimedia and Technology Academy (MTA) at Monache High School and Academy of Energy Related Occupations (AERO) at Porterville High School remained at Certified status. The Academy of Hospitality (AH!) at Monache High School jumped a level after being in a launch-year status last year and is now a Certified pathway.
The DDC (Digital Design and Communications) Pathway at Granite Hills High School attained Member status, along with the Academy of Careers in Education (ACE), which was in a launch-year status last year.