The Public Affairs Academy will offer a rigorous curriculum in public policy analysis and administration that will prepare students to assume leadership positions in government, business, and non-profit organizations. This academy will be open to students in their junior year of high school that have expressed interest in public affairs and/or are recommended by their Social Studies and/or English teacher. These students are then interviewed by a core group of teachers from the academy. The Academy will go beyond traditional programs to offer a multidisciplinary approach to the complex economic, political, technological, and social issues of the 21st century. All courses will focus on studying public affair and policy in all facets of modern society. Each course, whether an elective or required selection, will incorporate media and technology into the everyday reinforcement of all classroom teachings. Through research and inquiry based methods students will be given the opportunity to study public affairs. Special attention will be given to the political and socio-economic nature of public affairs. Topics included in the study of public affair will include, but not be limited to, race, gender, ethnicity, social class, environment and culture. All of these topics will be looked at both historically and in modern context to help students better understand current events, political climates and relevant public affairs.