Applying to the STEM Academy
Application Window
OPENS: Friday, October 5th, 2018 8:00 AM
online application live 10/5/2018
CLOSES: Monday, November 12th 11:00 PM
Late applications are not accepted. If students are undecided during the application window, they should go ahead and apply to the STEM Academy during the application window.
Should a student be accepted, they may rescind the acceptance at a later date; however, they may not apply after the application window closes.
ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS
The Forsyth Central STEM Academy is a four year comprehensive program, which fosters a student centered learning community, with a culture of innovation and adaptive risk-taking, for the purpose of solving complex, non-routine, real-world problems.
The integration of academic disciplines, combined with the STEM Biotechnology and Engineering pathways, allow students to develop transferable skill sets, aimed at maximizing not only a student’s intellectual and technological skills, but also their soft skills in communication, collaboration, service, and leadership. The Forsyth Central STEM Academy is home to roughly 250-300 STEM students grades 9-12 from across the district.
Since its founding in 2011, the STEM Academy has used a competitive admission process to select students from around the Forsyth County School District. Applicants usually represent the top 10-25% of the feeder schools from around the districts and 60% of our population are students who are attending the STEM Academy out of district.
Students are selected, much like a college application process, by a team of reviewers who evaluate applicants based on grades, test scores, teacher recommendations, student organization, motivation, demonstrated interest in STEM subjects, submitted essay responses, and student video submission. This is a competitive admissions process and each year the number of highly qualified applicants has increased.
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Prospective applicants must be in the eighth grade and a full time resident of Forsyth County.
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Applicants are accepted from homeschool and private school, if the students reside in the Forsyth County.
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Since it is a 4 year program, students may only enter the STEM Academy in the 9th grade.
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Applicants must be on the "Advanced" or " Accelerated" math track to apply to the Academy.
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As an entering freshmen, students should be recommended for either:
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ACC Algebra I/ Geometry A or
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ACC Geometry B/ Algebra II
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Important Dates
Oct 5, 2018 8:00 A M- Application Window Opens
Oct 18, 2018 6-8:00 PM- STEM OPEN HOUSE SHOWCASE
Nov 10, 2018 Saturday STEM Immersion Camp
Nov 12, 2018 11:00 PM Application Window Closes
January, 2019 Students notified of application status
January (date TBD by district) 2019- Out of District form due
STEP One
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Print two copies of the "Request for Recommendation Letter" and give a copy to applicant's current math and science teachers to request a recommendation.
Current math and science teachers may access the link below for the online teacher recommendation platform. Please note that all provided recs will be verified through the school system email for authenticity.
STEP TWO
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Complete the video essay. See links for instructions
STEP THREE
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Complete the online application. Applicants should be sure to complete their video from step two, prior to starting the application.
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Be sure to add the link for your video essay into the application.
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Only complete applications will be considered.
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Link for application is NOT LIVE UNTIL OCT 5
STEP FOUR- only for out of district students (OOD)
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Out of District Deadline is January 18, 2019. Students will be notified of their acceptance status prior to the OOD deadline.
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Students who have been accepted into the STEM Academy, who are not currently districted to attend Forsyth Central High School,should complete an online OOD request.
Please read through all the information supplied regarding the OOD process on the linked "OOD Information" page.
The "OOD Online Form" link is the actual OOD request. You are requesting OOD based on program need. the OOD request is a general form and will NOT specifically state for the STEM Academy. FCHS is listed as a school "not able to accept OOD requests for the 2019-20 school year;" however, this does not apply to students accepted in the STEM Academy .