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ACE—The Academy for Career Education—is a tuition-free charter high school dedicated to small classes, intensive focus and a hands-on learning environment in the following programs of study:
• Construction
• Engineering
• Architecture
• CADD
• Diesel Equipment Technology
Established in 2002 for students in grades 9-12 interested in pursuing a career in construction and engineering and related fields, ACE focuses on core academics, such as reading, writing, math and science, through the application of construction skills.
Since its inception, ACE students have continued to excel in the classroom and in state and national SkillsUSA championship competitions, a showcase for the best career and technical students in the nation. In 2008, 10 ACE students took home five gold medals, eight earned silver and five took bronze.
Success stories like these are attributed to small class sizes and an outstanding staff of career educators and industry veterans. Student talent is nurtured by a faculty and administration hailing from all corners of the public and private sectors, with a broad base of experience ranging from spearheading student vocational programs in Washoe County to managing multimillion-dollar contracts in the aerospace and defense industry.
Currently, more than 200 students are enrolled in one of ACE High School's career programs: Building Trades, CADD or Diesel Equipment Technology.
The Building Trades program offers students the extraordinary opportunity to build a custom home from the ground up. From building the frame to outfitting the plumbing and installing the porch lights, students not only gain the know how, but the discipline to see a job through to the end—right down to hammering in the last nail. Proceeds from the sale of the house help fund the next year's program.
The Computer Aided Drafting and Design program teaches students how to create the blueprints, or detailed drawings, of ideas and concepts in 2-D, 3-D and 3-D VIZ format. These sketches are based on the complex calculations of engineers, land surveyors, architects and even scientists. In the workplace, this skillset can apply anything from designing toasters to spacecrafts.
In the Diesel Equipment Technology program, students learn to repair and maintain construction and transportation equipment, while learning safety on the shop floor. The program also utilizes a variety of high-tech computerized testing equipment to pinpoint and analyze malfunctions. Working in conjunction with Truckee Meadows Community College, students who successfully complete this program earn a one-year Certificate of Achievement and/or AAS degree from TMCC. In essence, ACE students already have a full year of college under their tool belt when they graduate high school.
There are many exciting and lucrative vocations, from project management to architecture to trades, such as plumbing, electrician and carpentry.
ACE represents the future in education—a partnership with industry to provide a better education, while simultaneously building a better workforce to meet its demand.
ACE meets all the requirements established by the State of Nevada and standards set forth by the Washoe County School District. An ACE diploma is the same as any other public school diploma in Washoe County and actually has more value within the construction industry as ACE graduates also receive an added Career and Technical Education endorsement upon completion of their degree program.
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