EBR Parish students will benefit from new Focus Choice schools partnership programs [Sponsored]

Sponsored by EBR Focus Choice Schools

Medical school is notoriously competitive. Aside from grades and test scores, candidates who can demonstrate their interest and commitment to medicine from an early age stand out in the sea of applicants. Preparing for the medical field means looking ahead, and the East Baton Rouge Parish School System is expanding its portfolio to offer students a cohort of Focus Choice Schools for the 2022-2023 school year.

For students who know they want to enter medical or environmental fields, and even for those who don’t, EBR Focus Choice Schools will enhance problem-solving and critical-thinking skills essential to future success in any field.

EBR’s new Focus Choice Schools are small eco-models focusing on specialized themes on a smaller scale. The programs are heavily influenced by agreements with post-secondary institutions, hospitals, businesses, or industries, assisting the district with implementation, providing systemic, direct support for students and teachers.


EXPLORING WITH PURPOSE

Focus Choice Schools are designed to provide parents with options to expand those  currently offered by the district. Students at these specialized schools will benefit in several ways with the opportunity to:

• Choose programs centered around their interests.

• Graduate from high school with an associate degree and a high school diploma ready for a demanding market.

• Better prepare to enter the workforce with high-level skills and knowledge.

• Access to a number of differentiated K-12 specialized programs with post-secondary institution or specialized industry partnerships.


Park Elementary transitions to a new exploratory model, Park Medical Academy Elementary. A partnership with the Baton Rouge General Medical System creates a strong foundation and helps students develop and apply leadership, social, civic, and health care skills in a professional setting.

Phase one begins in the 2022-2023 school year with a PK-6 phase-in approach that will provide a year of planning for the district and the medical center to adjust and redefine the instructional process to meet the needs of students as they matriculate to high school.

The project-based exploratory model will include courses in forensics, medical technology, pharmaceutical, nursing, and clinical studies, which will serve as a catalyst for theme-based opportunities aligned with programs at the high school level.


The Eva Legard Center for Coastal and Environmental Studies will play a key role in addressing the current and future needs of the environmental industry. Through a partnership with LSU, the Focus Choice school will offer courses in environmental erosion, wetlands conservation, soil and native ecosystems, mitigation, and conservation efforts. Students who graduate from the program will be guaranteed admission into LSU.


LSU and the Water Institute of the Gulfare helping to design the rigorous, project-based outdoor model to engage students in a STEM-focused environment. The goal of the program is to develop and expand the pipeline of scientists and researchers knowledgeable about the environmental issues and challenges in Louisiana. Students will be introduced to fundamental problems utilizing the thematic, expeditionary, and exploratory learning practices taught by trained LSU teachers and staff. Visit ebrfocus.org to learn more about these exciting programs.