Central Academy (Des Moines)

Central Academy is a public magnet school located in Des Moines, Iowa for students between grades 6 and 12. The school is nationally recognized for the high academic standard of its coursework and the performance of its students 2007 Iowa AP Index, "The University of Iowa Recognizes the Top 50 AP Schools in Iowa", http://www.iowaapindex.org/] . The Academy is ranked in the top one percent of Advanced Placement programs in the country Des Moines Public Schools, "Program Overview: Gifted and Talented, School Programs", http://www.dmps.k12.ia.us/programs/8overview.htm/] .

Curriculum

The curriculum at the Academy is accelerated so that most students may begin Advanced Placement work in tenth grade Des Moines Public Schools, "Program Overview: Gifted and Talented, School Programs", http://www.dmps.k12.ia.us/programs/8overview.htm/] . The Academy offers seventeen Advanced Placement courses in the fields of science, English, social studies, and mathematics.

Prerequisites

Students wishing to pursue the Advanced Placement science and English courses at the Academy must complete a combined year-long study of chemistry and physics, and world and American literature courses, respectively.

tudent body

Composition

The Academy has a student body of over one thousand students Phil Roeder, "Pappajohn gift will enhance education for years", Des Moines Register, June 20th, 2007, http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070620/OPINION04/706200341 ] which derives from thirty eight middle and high schools in central Iowa. Roosevelt High School and Hoover High School have the most students that go there. Des Moines Higher Education Collaborative - Pappajohn Scholars Institute, "Academy Profile - 2006", http://www.dmhec.com/PSI/General_Information/Profile_info_brochure_06.doc/ ] .

Profile

Attendees of the Academy are considered part of the Des Moines Public Schools' Gifted and Talented initiative, and are required to met several benchmarks before being admitted into the Academy Des Moines Public Schools, "Program Overview: Gifted and Talented, School Programs", http://www.dmps.k12.ia.us/programs/8overview.htm/] . Students are required to demonstrate: general intellectual ability, creative thinking, leadership ability, visual and performing arts ability, and a specific ability aptitude. The school district also bases admission into the Academy on teacher recommendations and standardized test scores, requiring students to score above the 95th percentile on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills.

Academic Achievement

As of 2006, the Academy has produced 26 AP State Scholars, 122 AP National Scholars, 453 AP Scholars with Honor, and over 1000 AP Scholars Des Moines Higher Education Collaborative - Pappajohn Scholars Institute, "Academy Profile - 2006", http://www.dmhec.com/PSI/General_Information/Profile_info_brochure_06.doc/ ] . The average Academy student will take 5.85 AP Exams in his or her high school career 2007 Iowa AP Index, "The University of Iowa Recognizes the Top 50 AP Schools in Iowa", http://www.iowaapindex.org/ ] .

References