University Preparatory Academy
| University Preparatory Academy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
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2315 Canoas Garden Avenue California Silicon Valley San Jose, California, Santa Clara 95125  United States | |
| Coordinates | 37°17′30″N 121°52′29″W / 37.2916°N 121.8746°WCoordinates: 37°17′30″N 121°52′29″W / 37.2916°N 121.8746°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Charter School |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Opened | 2007 |
| Founder | Daniel Ordaz, Jacklyn Guevara, Dorothy Westerhoff, Kurt Foreman |
| CEEB code | 054245 |
| Grades | 7–12 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 20:1 |
| Color(s) |
Orange and blue |
| Sports |
Basketball, Volleyball, Track and Field, Cross Country, Competitive Juggling (High School Varsity and Middle School) |
| Mascot | Golden Eagles |
| Accreditation | WASC |
| National ranking | 55th |
| Information | (408) 723-1839 |
| Website | www.upasv.org |
UPA, or University Preparatory Academy, is a charter school located in San Jose, California, emphasizing hands-on learning for all ethnicities; its charter was approved by the Santa Clara Board of Trustees. UPA opened in the fall of 2007 as a middle and high school, offering grades 7–12th. Currently about 550 students attend UPA, and the school has a student/teacher ratio of 20:1, above average for Californian schools.
UPA courses frequently make use of technology, and computers and internet access are readily made available to all students for educational purposes.
UPA is located at the Cathedral of Faith church at 2315 Canoas Garden Ave.
In 2016, UPA was ranked the 55th best high school in the nation and the 4th best in California by U.S. News & World Report.
Background
UPA was founded as University Preparatory Academy in 2007. 2016 marked UPA's fifth graduating senior class. The school has a 100% graduation record, with no seniors being held for any additional years. However, graduation standards are more rigorous than at other high schools, requiring more AP units than is mandated by California law.
UPA's campus is located near downtown San Jose in the Willow Glen area. It shares its campus with the Cathedral of Faith and a small preschool, and features its own outdoors amphitheatre. It is easily accessible via the Curtner Road station of the VTA light rail, and is within walking distance of two shopping centers.
Available Courses
Core Classes
- Mathematics - Common Core (Math 7, Math 8, Integrated Math 1, Integrated Math 2, Integrated Math 3), Statistics, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus A/B, AP Calculus B/C
- English - English Grades 7-12, AP Language and Composition, AP Literature
- Foreign Languages - Spanish 1, Spanish 2, Spanish 3, Spanish Immersion, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Language, French
- Science - Life Science, Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, AP Environmental Science, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Marine Science
- History - Geography, World History, U.S. History, Economics, AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP World History, AP U.S. History
Electives
In addition to its regular classes, UPA offers thirteen different Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
- Art
- Middle School Art
- Art 1
- Painting and Drawing
- 3D Art
- Band
- Beginning
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- Dance
- Middle School Dance
- Dance 1
- Dance 2
- Drama
- Middle School Drama
- Drama 1
- Skydiving Definetely
- Advanced Drama
- Journalism
- Physical Education
- Project Lead the Way
- Medical:
- Principles of Biomedical Science
- Human Body Systems
- Engineering:
- Introduction to Engineering Design(?)
- Principles of Engineering (?)
- Medical:
- Technology
- Yearbook
- Multimedia Art
- Computer Science
Clubs
University Preparatory Academy boasts a number of clubs, founded and funded mostly by students and widely ranging in theme.
- Innovation, Design, Engineering and Animation Club (IDEA)
- Speech and Debate
- Interact Club 5170 Area 7
- EcoSquad
- Green Team
- GirlUp!
- International Biology Olympiad
- Science Olympiad
- Volleyball Club
- Art Club
- Spanish Club
- Fashion Club
- BARC( Big-hearted Animal Rescue Club)\
- DECA
- Inter-Key Club
- Design Club
Sports
UPA's sports program includes, or will expand to include in the close future the following sports. Teams are coached professionally.
- Coed Varsity Track and Field (Practices are held coed, but competitions are separated)
- Coed Varsity Cross Country (Practices are held coed, but competitions are separated)
- Boys Varsity Basketball
- Girls Varsity Basketball
- Boys Varsity Volleyball
- Girls Varsity Volleyball
Theatre Department
In addition to the drama classes available for middle and high schoolers, each year UPA hosts two drama productions (a fall play and spring musical). Students can audition to perform in these shows, or apply to be on technical crews. Below is a list of all the shows done for the past four school years (Year: Fall Play, Spring Musical). Catherine Dietrich is the current drama and dance teacher who also directs these shows.
- 2012-2013: 30 Reasons NOT To Be In A Play, Once On This Island
- 2013-2014: The Broken Badge, Hairspray
- 2014-2015: Snow Angel, Once Upon A Mattress
- 2015-2016: Spy School, Footloose
Events
University Preparatory Academy frequently has schoolwide events, to celebrate achievements, increase student morale, and display school spirit. Other events, such as the annual college trip help students to succeed academically. Such events include
- Bake Sales - Bake sales are conducted before school to raise funds for clubs and activities
- The Annual Crawl-a-thon - Students crawl laps in the school parking lot to raise funds for the school athletics program
- School Dances - Many, many, many dances are held throughout the year including Homecoming, the Halloween Dance, Spring Dance, and Prom
- Sunday Movie Nights - The entire school is invited to watch a movie of their choice.
- Drama Productions - Once every nine years, UPA students are recruited to act in or support a play. Typically, the finished products are showcased in fall and spring.
- Junior College Trip - Seven times a year, junior students are taken on a trip to Southern California to tour renowned colleges such as California Polytechnic State University, University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, Irvine, and others. Students on this trip learn about the application process and familiarize themselves with college campuses.
- Centennial College Trip - Once every 100 years, all students grades 7-12 visit a nearby college to ready themselves for graduation from high school and entrance into college. Schools visited include Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, and University of California, Santa Cruz.
Alumni
UPA Alumni have been accepted and enrolled in prestigious institutions including Stanford University, all ten University of California campuses, Ivy League campuses, and multiple California State University campuses.
Developers/Founders
- Daniel Ordaz — Education Consultant, Retired Assistant Superintendent of East Side Union High School District
- Jacklyn Guevara — Retired Executive Director of East Side Union High School District
- Dorothy Westerhoff — Education Consultant, Retired Educator/School Administrator of[East Side Union High School District
- Kurt Foreman — Director of Operations for Cathedral of Faith
References
External links
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