Academic Electives & Specials
Academic Electives, Specials & Extra-Curricular
Applied Learning strives to provide students with opportunities in engaging activities that will generate interest, spark passion, increase the application of skills and knowledge, and facilitate a community of students who will graduate prepared to tackle the challenges of the world around them. We do this through seven areas: Civic Engagement, Driver's Education, Music & Performing Arts, Physical Education, STEM & Computer Science, and Visual Arts.
Applied Learning is Experiential Learning
Experiential learning is learning through doing. It encompasses critical thinking and reflection, student initiative and accountability, student engagement on intellectual, creative, social, emotional, and physical levels, and recognizes the ability to learn and grow from these experiences.
Applied Learning focuses on putting students’ well-being and interests at the center of their educational journey. Electives and Specials provide an environment that supports social-emotional learning while ensuring the retention of core skills through experiential learning. Encouraging social-emotional learning, strong core-content subject matter, and innovative electives acknowledges student voice to ensure a well-rounded educational experience.
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Leon County Schools is required to teach, and students are required to meet state curriculum standards as defined by the Florida Department of Education. State-adopted standards establish the core content of the curricula to be taught in the state and specify the core content knowledge and skills that public-school students in kindergarten through grade 12 are expected to acquire. All teachers are expected to be proficient in teaching those standards that are applicable to the course, subject, and grade level of their students. The grading system employed by Leon County Schools represents each student’s level of performance based on achievement of these standards.
Leon County Schools implements a standards-based instructional approach reflecting state and local requirements for K-12 education, using the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS), Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (BEST), and Florida Standards (FS). You can find more information on these standards by visiting: www.cpalms.org/public. While specific programs of study are described in the level-specific sections of this plan, the following are the district’s standards-based content areas of focus:
- English Language Arts BEST
- Mathematics BEST
- Science (NGSSS)
- Social Studies (NGSSS)
- Health Education (NGSSS)
- Fine and Practical Arts (NGSSS)
- World Languages (NGSSS)
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The STEM + Computer Science program encompasses the following initiatives:
- Computer Science ()
- Engineering and Robotics ()
- Environmental Stewardship ()
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Music & Performing Arts are an important part of learning and help make our communities better:
- When students take part in creative activities like music and theatre, they become more engaged in school and in life.
- Our Music programs include: Band, Chorus, Orchestra, Digital Music, AP Music Theory
- Pur theatre programs include: Theatre, Musical Theatre, Theatre Tech & AICE Drama
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The Visual Arts program in Leon County Public Schools helps students grow their minds by using creativity in many ways.
- Art is an important part of the school curriculum.
- Visual Art supports self-expression and helps students learn to solve problems and think deeply.
- The program connects art with other subjects and gives students a safe space to share and improve their ideas.
- Some of our programs are 2-D Art, 3-D Art, Ceramics, Digital Art, AP Art
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Physical Education in Leon County Public Schools is
- A place where all students can learn and grow through fun and active lessons.
- The instruction is based on standards and made to meet everyone’s needs.
- Students learn in a safe and supportive environment, both physically and emotionally.
- Students have the right equipment to play and practice, enough time in class to improve, and helpful feedback from their teachers.
- PE is a class where students are excited to move, work together, and feel good about themselves.
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Driver's Education goals:
- To ensure that all students have the opportunity to obtain their learner's permit or driving license.
- To effectively and efficiently teach students traffic laws and defensive driving skills, which ensure safe driving habits that will last a lifetime.