Appleton Technical Academy
| Appleton Technical Academy ATech | |
|---|---|
 Logo | |
| Address | |
  ATech  ATech Location in Wisconsin/United States | |
|
610 North Badger Avenue Appleton, Wisconsin 54914 United States of America | |
| Coordinates | 44°16′6″N 88°25′43″W / 44.26833°N 88.42861°WCoordinates: 44°16′6″N 88°25′43″W / 44.26833°N 88.42861°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Manufacturing Charter |
| Established | 2013 |
| Opened | 2 September 2014 |
| Founder | Jared Bailin and Greg Harjes |
| School district | Appleton Area School District |
| President | Jared Bailin |
| Principal | Greg Harjes |
| Head teacher | Paul Lindberg |
| Faculty |
5
|
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 78 (2015-2016 School Year) |
| Hours in school day |
|
| Classrooms | 6 |
| Campus | Appleton West High School |
| Feeder to | Fox Valley Technical College |
| Graduates (2015) | 15 |
| Website | appletontech.org |
| Source:[1][2][3] | |
Appleton Technical Academy, more commonly known as ATech, is a public charter school with a focus on developing the skills necessary for successful entry into the modern advanced manufacturing workforce. The school was created as a result of the growing number of manufacturing jobs that need to be filled in Wisconsin, as baby boomers retire. The school was formally established at the end of 2013 and the first day of classes was on 2 September 2014.[2]
The school also gives students the ability to earn up to 24 college credits at the nearby Fox Valley Technical College which can be transferred to a 4-year college if the student chooses to do so. This results in the student saving hundreds of dollars on student tuition as well as complete the first 8 months of most programs while still being in high school.[4]
ATech is a part-time school for 9th and 10th graders and a full-time school for 11th and 12th graders.[4] 11th and 12th graders pick a focus area depending on their interests, including[5] welding, machining, automated manufacturing and mechanical design.
History
The idea of the school came when Jared Bailin, the president of Eagle Plastics came to Greg Hartjes with the concern that there was a need for people to fill jobs, but also develop the skills needed to successfully work in the shop environment daily; a planning board was formed shortly after. The board was given a grant shortly after its formation to plan the school by the WDPI.[2]
Shop Renovation
In the summer of 2014, a referendum was passed by the Appleton Area School District, providing funding to renovate many of their buildings with much of this being contributed to remodeling the shops at Appleton West High School. As part of the renovations, the whole Tech-Ed wing was gutted completely and rebuilt. Brand new state of the art equipment was purchased that resembles the equipment widely found out in the workforce.[6]
Typical Schedule
The typical day at ATech consists of 9 periods, the amount of time spent in the charter depends on grade level.[5]
The typical schedule for a junior (grade 11) looks like...
| Period Number | Class |
|---|---|
| 1 | Health or Study Hall |
| 2 | Drafting |
| Flex | Homeroom |
| 3 | Principles of Engineering |
| 4 | English and History |
| 5 | Lunch |
| 6 | Lab time in focus area |
| 7 | Math |
| 8 | Personal Finance Management or Study Hall |
Awards
On October 21, 2015 the school was presented the "Brighter Image" Award by the NEW Manufacturing Alliance. The Brighter Image is presented for excellence in manufacturing/K12 partnerships.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ "Governing Board - Appleton Technical Academy". appletontech.org. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Our History - Appleton Technical Academy". appletontech.org. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- ↑ Jen, Zettel (2015-03-12). "Appleton charter school focuses on skilled trades". Post Crescent. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
- 1 2 "FAQ - Appleton Technical Academy". appletontech.org. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- 1 2 "A Typical Day - Appleton Technical Academy". appletontech.org. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- ↑ "ATECH Facilities Are Changing Appleton Technical Academy". appletontech.org. Appleton Technical Academy. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
The old walls are down and the new ones are up along with 8 new welding booths
- ↑ "A-Tech Shines with "Brighter Image" Award". www.aasd.k12.wi.us. Retrieved 18 September 2016.