2 New Aliso Niguel Academies Proposed

Looking to expand the high school curriculum, Capistrano Unified School District trustees tonight will consider a proposal to create two new educational academies at Aliso Niguel High School.

As part of the district’s goal to better prepare students, Capistrano Unified has created specialized academies on high school campuses that are designed to link the curriculum to core career paths and to provide students with more marketable skills.

The various academies, which are voluntary programs, focus on a wide range of subjects including health and medical occupations; culinary arts; business; botany; education; math, science and technology; and law and public policy.

The two new proposed academies that teachers at Aliso Niguel want to develop center on environmental studies and international and global studies.

The environmental studies academy would teach students how to manage and control the living and nonliving things in the world. Using physics, chemistry, math and computer science, students would study everything from soils and mineral absorption to chaparral ecosystems and indigenous species, according to a district report.

In the international academy, students interested in pursuing college studies or careers in fields such as international relations, law, politics and the military would be able to take courses on topics like cultural geography and American foreign policy after World War II.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the district office, 32972 Calle Perfecto. Information: (714) 489-7000.