Reagan and North Division recognized for excellence in NAF program

Congratulations to Ronald Wilson Reagan College Preparatory High School for earning Distinguished Level and to North Division High School for earning Model Level from the NAF Education Network. Both schools submitted extensive program records and hosted site visits with National Academy Foundation (NAF) leadership and experts to earn these distinctions. The NAF program promotes college and career readiness and success for students.

Nationwide, only 200 schools earned Model Level through NAF, and only 135 reached Distinguished Level. This is the first year that Milwaukee Public Schools has had a high school reach Distinguished Level.

At Reagan, more than 100 students participated in NAF Academy of Health Science, with 33 taking part in internships. Twelve students earned their Certified Nursing Assistant credential as part of this program. North Division was honored for its NAF Academy of Information Technology, and also offers an NAF Academy of Health Science. More than 100 students took part this year, with 24 participating in internships. As a culminating project, North Division NAF Academy of IT students designed websites for local businesses in the 53206 ZIP code, providing a needed service to help owners promote, market, and succeed in their businesses.

NAF provides strategic structure, tools, and resources to support MPS high school students in pursuit of chosen career fields. Community partners are essential elements in NAF programming, providing mentors and internships. For the 2020–21 school year, MPS will have NAF academies in seven schools:

• Audubon Technology and Communication High School
• Bay View High School • James Madison Academic Campus
• North Division High School
• Ronald Wilson Reagan College Preparatory High School
• South Division High School
• Washington High School of Information Technology

NAF programs focus on five career themes: finance, hospitality and tourism, information technology, engineering, and health sciences. Students who are interested in being part of an NAF track should contact their school counselor.

NAF works with highneed communities to transform the high school experience through an educational design that includes industry- specific curricula, workbased learning experiences, and relationships with business professionals, culminating in a paid internship. NAF academies fit within and enhance school systems. During the 2019–20 school year, more than 112,000 students attended 620 NAF academies across the country.