At Jackson-Reed, only students in a given academy are allowed to take the classes within the pathway. This policy should be revoked because it forces students to commit to an area of study too early. More students will find their interests if they are allowed to try varied courses without the stress of tying themselves to one academy and therefore one subject. 

This academy policy isn’t self-imposed by Jackson-Reed or DCPS; rather it was initiated by the program Career & Technical Education (CTE). The objective of CTE is to promote students’ learning and interests through academies and fund resources like class materials, field trips, and internships that can support this goal. While it is understandable that there are caveats in allowing any student to take every single academy course, it is unfair to limit students to an academy while not knowing what else is available. 

Additionally, this policy is similar to choosing a college major and forcing students into an academy doesn’t allow them to fully explore their options. Furthermore, freshmen entering JR often are unsure of what interests them academically, and they may be unfamiliar with what Jackson-Reed offers. The plethora of academies can seem daunting to freshmen, and it may lead students to be apathetic about  and disengaged from academies as a whole if they feel they do not know which is right for them.  

While assigning underclassmen various introductory academy courses can be challenging, it may actually be beneficial to the students and the academies themselves. Allowing students to determine what their passion is may improve retention rates in academies, and students may feel more involved and connected knowing that they have chosen their own path. Students should not be forced to decide their academic future before they have had the opportunity to explore all of their options and therefore this academy policy should be waived.