A. J. Moore Academy

Infobox School
name = A.J. Moore Academy Magnet High School


motto = Moore for your future!
type = Public Magnet
affiliation = 2008-2009 Professional Development School (Baylor University), Project Lead the Way, National Academy Foundation
district = Waco ISD
grades = 9-12
president =
principal = Dr. Debra Bishop
head of school =
dean =
faculty = 56
staff = 70
students = 687
enrollment =
conference =
colors = Blue, White, Black
mascot = Bulldog
location = 500 N.University Parks Drive Waco, TX 76701
country = USA
homepage = [http://www.wacoisd.org/ajmoore/ A.J. Moore Website]

Alfred James Moore Academy (more commonly referred to as A.J. Moore Academy) is a magnet high school in the Waco ISD district in Waco, TX. A.J. Moore is designed to prepare students for success in post secondary education and in the workplace. Students are prepared to excel academically, physically and socially. Special emphasis is placed on business, engineering, entrepreneurship, technology, and post-secondary education.

History

The school is named after Professor A. J. Moore, the first principal and first African-American principal of an all (later segregated) black school that existed in Waco in the years following the American Civil War.

A. J. Moore Academy is on a campus built for a school that was known as Jefferson-Moore High School.

In 1986, three Waco High Schools (Jefferson Moore High School, Waco High School, and Richfield High School) were consolidated. The building that housed the defunct Jefferson-Moore High School was renamed the Waco 9th Grade Center in 1988. A.J. Moore Academy was chartered in 1997 and it became the only magnet high school in the Waco Independent School District.

In 1997 the school began with only a ninth grade. Each year after that, the school added the next grade level to curriculum. In 2001, A. J. Moore Academy gave diplomas to its first graduating class.

The Class of 2009 will be A. J. Moore Academy's ninth graduating class.

Alma Mater

The original A. J. Moore Academy Alma Mater was written by Cliff DuVall (Social Studies Teacher) and David Middlebrook (Music/Band Teacher) in 2000.

The lyrics:

"Oh I never will forget you, dear old school beside the river.The knowledge that you pass to me will live in me forever,and the memories of your hallways will remain forever true;A. J. Moore: black, white and blue.A. J. Moore, we love you.A. J. Moore, we love you."

It was re-written in 2004 to the version heard at commencement ceremonies.

Enrollment

Because it is a magnet school, any Waco Independent School District student can attend A. J. Moore Academy regardless of city limits or school boundary lines. An application is required but selection is made on a first-come basis. If more students apply then the school has space a lottery is held to fill remaining slots.

Extracurricular Activities: The Bulldog Battalion

The Bulldog Battalion is AJ Moore's Honor Unit JROTC program.

Curriculum

At A.J. Moore, engineering/technology and business and entrepreneurship programs include regular and advanced high school courses with an emphasis on practical applications. Students participate in internships as part of their studies.

Technical systems classes expose students to different careers in biomedicine, technology, computer assisted design, aerodynamics and audio/video production. Information technology, electronics and engineering are based on state of the art science and technology programs. Video conferencing is used to provide unique course offerings.

After the tenth grade year dual credit, articulated and advanced placement courses help students jump-start their college careers. Business skills have been infused into the rich curriculum, according to design from community business partners.

Co-curricular Programs Chess Club Choir Jazz Band Literary Club National Honor Society Steel Drum Band Robotics Club Volleyball JROTC The United States Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program mission is to make students better citizens. Each student participates in the leadership, education and training (LET) curriculum.

Students are given opportunities to participate with local units in competitions which include Annual Drill Team Color Guard and Orienteering.

pecial Programs

A.J. Moore was chosen by the National Academy Foundation (NAF) to be one of the twelve pilot sites in the US for the Academy of Information Technology and one of thirteen pilot sites for the Academy of Engineering. The school was the first school in the nation to include all four NAF academies including an Academy of Hospitality and Tourism and an Academy of Finance.

The Academy of Engineering is affiliated with Project Lead the Way (PLTW) since 2001. It was the sixth school in the State of Texas to become certified to offer PLTW courses for college credit. In 2007 the school became a pilot school for a new partnership between PLTW, NAF, and the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering.

Dual Credit Junior and senior students may earn both high school and college credits by taking and successfully completing approved college courses. Students must obtain permission from the counselor or school principal to participate at local colleges and universities. The Athens Academy The Athens Academy, a comprehensive college preparatory program, prepares students to enter some of the most competitive universities in the country.

Students take challenging course work, appropriate co curricular activities and receive guidance and counseling to help them enter the college of their choice. Athens classes are open to all students. Students graduating with an Athens Seal must meet all requirements for the Texas Distinguished Achievement program seal and take a minimum of ten Athens courses.

Advanced Placement (AP) classes Students can earn college credit by taking Advanced Placement tests and scoring a 3 or higher on AP tests. These College Board tests cover material taught in AP classes. AP classes offered at A.J. Moore include English 3 Language/composition, English 4 Literature/composition, Calculus AB, US History, Government, Economics, Physics, and Chemistry.

Academies

All students at A. J. Moore must belong to one of the following small learning communities.
*Academy of Construction Sciences
*Academy of Emerging Technology
*Academy of Engineering
*Academy of Environmental Technology
*Academy of Finance
*Academy of Information Technology
*Academy of Hospitality and Tourism

Trivia

*Doris Miller attended Jefferson-Moore High School, a name-sake of A. J. Moore Academy.
*Jefferson-Moore High School was the first school in the WISD region to desegragate.
*L/CPL Johnny Ray Strong attended and graduated from AJ Moore Academy

External links

* [http://www.wacoisd.org/ajmoore A.J. Moore Website]
* [http://www.wacoisd.org Waco ISD Website]
* [http://www.wacoisd.org/ajmrotc The Bulldog Battalion]