The East Baton Rouge Parish School System is expanding its portfolio of schools that will offer students non-academic admission into the cohort of Focus Choice Schools, a model designed to provide competitive and engaging theme-based programs beginning in the 2022-2023 school year.

 

The Focus Choice School (FCS) model provides opportunities for students who are interested in defined thematic programs that are aligned with the five career fields of the Pathways to Bright Futures program: Technology, Construction and Manufacturing, Medical and Pre-Med, Transportation and Logistics, and Liberal Arts and Management. In addition, each school is supported by a community partner, who in turn, assists the district with specialized expertise for each model. There are no GPA or testing requirements to get into a Focus Choice School; however, students are required to apply for non-academic admission for each school in the Focus Choice network. Each program will have a retention requirement that is dependent on the post-secondary credential requirements. This could range from 2.00 to 3.00 depending on the program.

 

Focus Choice Schools is a model concentrating on implementing choice schools that are innovative and provide a stimulating and challenging curriculum while capitalizing on integrating a postsecondary partnership. A centralized goal of the program recognizes that school choice is a critical and essential aspect of every urban school system; therefore, the purpose of this plan is to provide innovative programs, and enhanced opportunities throughout the school district to systematically implement themed-based programs.

Programs are aligned with the district’s Strategic Plan to increase available seats, add or enhance innovative programs, promote systemic recruitment strategies and to increase seats at schools with capacity. In alignment with the Pathways to Bright Futures academic programming design, Focus Choice Schools specialized programs will provide students with the opportunity to participate in dual enrollment programs that will allow them to graduate from high school with an associate degree.