Abraham Lincoln High School Academies

Abraham Lincoln High School offers students four academy programs. The Academy of Finance (AOF) and the Academy of Information Technology (AOIT) both operate under the curriculum designed by the National Academy Foundation (http://www.naf.org/). The Biotechnology and the Teacher Academy are both programs unique to Lincoln which are currently being modeled in other schools in the district.

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Academy Descriptions

Academy of Business and Finance

Coordinator: Denise Gregor

The Academy of Business & Finance will provide training for career opportunities in business and finance. Students have the opportunity to participate in paid summer internships as well as attend classes at City College.

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Academy of Information Technology

Coordinators: Denise Gregor & Elaine Walenta

The Abraham Lincoln Academy of Information Technology is a two-year program for juniors that combines specially designed computer and multimedia classes with work experience. Those accepted into the program have the opportunity to work in a paid summer internship at a local business or industry related organization. Academy students will have the opportunity to be invited to industry affairs and have an opportunity to work with the industry leaders.

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Biotechnology Academy

Coordinator: George Cochianes

In the past 10 years, over 1,500 ALHS students have enrolled in a biotechnology career pathway offered here featuring a year-long class called Principles of Biotechnology I/II. Several ALHS graduates who have taken the classes are now finished with their undergraduate educations and are employed by local biotech companies, including powerhouse Genentech, Inc. of South San Francisco.

Starting in 2005, Abraham Lincoln High School students will have the option of enrolling in a Biotechnology Career Academy which features a second year of biotechnology training. The new course, called Principles of Biotechnology III/IV, expands upon the concepts taught in the first year course. The new course is all projects based and will involve lab-work at the graduate school level of difficulty. The grading for the new course will also reflect graduate school, as assessment involves experimentation, demonstrating a list of competencies required in the biotechnology industry, and a lot of writing. Some of the projects students will do include sub-cloning genes, purifying proteins, and sequencing their own DNA.

The academy in biotechnology will provide ALHS students with advanced training that could lead directly to employment with a high school diploma. The great majority of ALHS graduates go on to a two-year or four-year undergraduate degree to work for this industry at a higher level and starting salary. City College of San Francisco offers an excellent two-year accreditation in Biotechnology, and 96% of their graduates are finding employment in the biotech industry. Many local companies will partially pay their employees’ tuition if they go to night school to finish their four year degree. Genentech for example will pay up to $12,000 annually for tuition and books. With the rising costs of a college education, this alternative is very attractive to many students.

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Teacher Academy

Coordinators: Dina Wright & Valerie Ziegler

Abraham Lincoln High School offers a unique opportunity for students interested in exploring a career working with children and youth in our community.

In addition to the 300,000 teachers California will need in the next decade to meet the needs of our growing student population, we also need qualified individuals to work in careers that involve working with children and youth in our community. These may include social workers, psychologists, therapists, coaches, and childcare workers and, or course, teachers and paraprofessionals.

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