Excelsior Academy at Newburgh Free Academy, North Campus welcomed a group from Louisiana this week!

Excelsior Academy at Newburgh Free Academy, North Campus welcomed a group from Louisiana this week! The group traveled to Newburgh with interest of developing a Pathways in Technology Early College High School Program (PTECH) in their districts. The group from Louisiana included teachers, administrators, employees from IBM, and a representative from the Governor’s office.

Newburgh Free Academy, North Campus is in the fourth year of offering PTECH Excelsior Academy. This year, 17 students will graduate with their associates degree from SUNY Orange and their high school diploma from Newburgh Free Academy.

PTECH Excelsior Academy at Newburgh Free Academy, North Campus has partnerships with SUNY Orange and IBM. Students primarily focus on cyber security and computer networking. Each year, a cohort of 50 students are accepted to the program through a lottery system. Students are able to complete their associates degree by the time of their high school graduation and can participate in paid internships from IBM through the program. Excelsior Academy also entails a strong mentoring program with professionals working in PTECH fields.

Students must apply to the program when entering high school, then they are selected via a lottery process. The demographics of the PTECH Excelsior Program are extremely similar to our entire high school population.

The day included information about the PTECH Excelsior Program at Newburgh Free Academy, North Campus, a tour of the school, classroom visits, and question and answer sessions with students, teachers, and administrators. 

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!