Programs at Capital High School « Back to Schools About Capital High School Capital High School is dedicated to empowering its students through a challenging, relevant, and supportive learning environment to promote life-long success and achievement. To fulfill our mission, we are committed to upholding high expectations for Capital High School’s community of students, parents, faculty and administration by demonstrating responsible and professional behaviors; by implementing a rigorous curriculum focused on writing, inquiry, collaboration, and reading; by promoting respect, diversity, teamwork, and positive relationships; and by honoring a continual effort to inhabit an eco-friendly environment. Capital High School is unique in its focus on preparing students for high wage, high skill, high demand fields via college and career readiness standards based instruction. Capital High School is structured in Smaller Learning Communities: Freshman Academies, Capital School of the Arts (CaSA) and Capital School of Science and Technology (CaSST). Students align sophomore year with an Academy of interest and have a focus of study around a career to prepare for post-secondary plans. Senior year, Capital High School students have the option to do internships, mentorships, or begin college courses through SFCC. Every student has access to college readiness skills through our intense AVID programming. Capital High School is in its fifth year of high school redesign. Our redesign philosophy is built on the concept of Career Academies with the goal of preparing students for high wage, high skill, high demand careers. Based on the New Mexico Career Clusters Initiative and student interest, Capital High School offers four career academies: Medical Sciences Academy (Project Lead the Way and HOSA) Business Management Academy (High School of Business and DECA) Digital Design Academy Capital Arts Production Academy Students entering their sophomore year select an academy after a year of career exploration in Freshman Seminar through theCareer Choices curriculum, and continue in that pathway as they prepare for post-secondary college and career opportunities. In their senior year, students participate in internships, mentorships, and dual credit coursework at the Santa Fe Community College to accelerate their program of study. As an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) National Demonstration School, Capital High School provides every student with college readiness instruction through school wide best practices including: Cornell note-taking, organizational techniques, career exploration, test preparation, and much more. Many students also participate in enhanced college preparatory curriculum offered in our AVID elective classes. Our academic counselors implement the ASCA National Model, and are essential partners in improving student achievement at Capital High School by providing classroom guidance lessons on post-secondary planning, study skills and career development as well as individualized academic planning through the Next Step Plan process and implementing data-driven interventions based on school improvement goals. In partnership with our feeder Ortiz Middle School, Capital High School was one of 25 schools awarded a seven year GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Grant to support and sustain our rigorous college readiness programs (such as AVID, after-school tutorials, financial planning assistance) in order to continue working to close the achievement gap and increase student success in college. Capital High School offers a wide range of Athletic Programs (Football, Volleyball, Cross Country, Soccer, Cheer/Dance, Basketball, Wrestling, Swimming, Tennis, Golf, Track, Baseball and Softball) as well as a variety of clubs and organizations (National Honor Society, DIVAS Girls’ Leadership Group, Salsa Club, O.A.S.I.S. Multicultural Club, Student Council, SWAT, DECA, Model Legislature and Green Team).