Clearwater High to get aerospace academy in January

With the opening of a new aviation academy, students at Clearwater High School soon will be able to graduate with a pilot’s license – and a jump into the growing field of aviation and aerospace.

The Clearwater Aeronautical Space Academy, or CASA, will have a soft launch in January, with one class available to interested students. The first course will be on unmanned aircraft. A full schedule of classes will be available in the 2014/15 school year.

“We’re really excited,” said Principal Keith Mastorides.

The new academy fits into Clearwater High’s wall-to-wall academy concept, which began last year. Mastorides describes the idea as a “new way of thinking” in which all students at the school take classes in career-themed areas, such as business and international studies, science and echnology, fine arts, and sports and hospitality.

Students are able to earn industry certifications, potentially giving them an edge in college or a path directly to work.

With the aviation and aerospace academy, students can take classes in engineering, space flight, piloting, aviation maintenance, and aeronautical science. Students, through dual-enrollment, can earn up to 30 college credits.

See more about the program here. And look for a story about it in the Times this weekend.

Source:  http://www.tampabay.com