Jack E. Singley Academy

Jack E. Singley Academy (formerly The Academy of Irving ISD) is a career-oriented public high school in Irving, Texas, United States. The school is a part of the Irving Independent School District. The Academy grants admission to students through a non-merit based selection process, which requires applying to the school during the spring semester of their 8th grade year. Students who are not selected may reapply their 9th and 10th grade years.

Jack E. Singley Academy
(The Academy of Irving ISD)
Address
4601 North MacArthur Boulevard

Irving
,
Texas
75038

United States of America
Coordinates32.867696°N 96.961455°W / 32.867696; -96.961455
Information
School typePublic school, Career based (U.S.)
PrincipalMelanie Kibodeaux
Staff106.39 (FTE)[1]
Grades9 - 12
Enrollment1,712 (2018-19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio16.09[1]
Color(s)     
MascotPhoenix

In 2009, 2010, and 2011 the school was rated "recognized" by the Texas Education Agency.[2]

Main Entrance

Demographics

(As of 2017)[3]

  • African American 7.7%
  • Asian 7.2%
  • Pacific Islander 0.2%
  • American Indian 1.1%
  • Hispanic 74.6%
  • White 8.4%

Curriculum

The school differs from other high schools in that it is an academy-based school offering six 'Schools of Specialty': Engineering (Manufacturing & Robotics), Information Technology, Culinary Arts and Hospitality Studies, Legal Studies, Health Science, and Arts and Communication.[4] These career studies advance as the student progresses and branches out into more specific careers in that program.

History and Facilities

The Academy is a comprehensive high school that opened its doors during the 2001-2002 school year. The school accommodates 1700 students in grades nine to twelve.[5]

Approved by Irving ISD voters as part of a school bond package in October 1997, The Academy of Irving ISD was constructed on the southeast corner of the North Lake College campus along MacArthur Boulevard in Las Colinas. The school was designed as a feeder school for students from the District's three existing high schools who would specialize in one of six specializations: Advanced & Applied Technology Studies; Education & Early Childhood Studies; Entrepreneurship & Tourism Studies; Legal Studies; Medical & Dental Studies; and Visual Arts & Communication Studies.[6]

The Academy was built to function more as a business office environment rather than a traditional high school, intending to immerse students in a professional workplace setting. Differing features include the absence of lockers (typical classroom materials such as textbooks are not used in lieu of digital alternatives), the inclusion of several windows into each classroom (built for visitors to observe students utilizing the technologies of the building), and the built-in infrastructure of the school allowing for the use of many electronic devices in each room (i.e. multiple electrical outlets and Ethernet ports). The school does not utilize bells to transition from class to class and instead enables students to manage their time between classes.

In 2004, The Academy of Irving ISD became a stand-alone campus without dependency on the other high schools. The students and staff chose its school colors as silver, black, and white, borrowing the secondary colors of the three traditional Irving ISD high schools, silver from Nimitz High School, black from Irving High School, and white from MacArthur High School.

A non-spectator gymnasium and 500-seat performing arts center were added in 2009, increasing the opportunities for physical education and fine arts programs offered at the school.

The school was renamed on May 18, 2009 to honor retiring superintendent Jack Erwin Singley.[7]

The student body selected the phoenix as the official school mascot at the end of the 2014-2015 school year. Work on the formation of the mascot began early in the 2014-2015 school year with former principal Dr.Tamy Smalskas and the student-led Senior Class Officer organization. A committee consisting of students, administration, teachers, parents, and faculty members helped curate ideas for mascots.

At the Irving ISD high school graduation ceremony of the 2014-2015 school year, student committee member, and member of the Senior Class Officers, Elisha Lucero gave a speech introducing the new mascot to the district and community.

Design

Designed by Powell/PSP Architects, the school is embedded into a hillside, which enabled at-grade access to each of the building's three stories. The building is organized around "Main Street", a mall-like circulation spine with abundant natural light and a 3-story atrium, with direct access to a food court and other fully functioning "real world" facilities in which students from a related Academy could work and study, including medical and dental clinics, a municipal courtroom, and a retail store for students.[8] Planned but never built was a daycare center. The school was designed to accommodate the District's new policy, which was first implemented here, of providing every student with a laptop computer.[9]

Awards

Its advanced design was recognized with several awards: the 2004 CEFPI James D. MacConnell Award for Excellence in Design (finalist), Walter Taylor Architecture Award Outstanding Educational Environment - 2003, American Institute of Architects / American Association of School Administrators / CEFPI; Project of Distinction Award - 2002, CEFPI; Design Award / School Architecture Exhibit - 2002, Texas Association of School Boards / Texas Association of School Administrators; Impact on Learning Award - 2002 School Planning & Management / CEFPI.

Theater

The theater program at Jack E. Singley Academy has been successful. The school has put on annually a fall show and the One Act Play. In 2016, the One Act Play "Shipwrecked! An Entertainment! The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as Told by Himself)" made Irving ISD history by going to state in the 6A region. The show was directed by Chris Ramirez.

References
  1. "JACK E SINGLEY ACADEMY". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  2. "2009 Accountability Rating System". Texas Education Agency. Archived from the original on 2015-10-25.
  3. https://www.irvingisd.net/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=31989&dataid=33900&FileName=Singley%20Academy.pdf
  4. "Specializations at Jack E. Singley Academy". www.irvingisd.net. Archived from the original on 2010-01-30. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  5. "About Jack E. Singley Academy". www.irvingisd.net. Archived from the original on 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  6. "Academy of Irving ISD overview". www.mpparchitects.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
  7. "Irving ISD Board Action May 18, 2009". www.irvingisd.net. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved 2009-12-26.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2011-03-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. Irving ISD laptop program Archived 2010-12-13 at the Wayback Machine
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