Overview: Our Vision for Success
Upon completion of their coursework at Leadership Preparatory Academy, students will be prepared to enter a 4-year college/university, the armed services, skilled trade workforce, or community leadership position, such as clergy, or law enforcement. Students will be perceptive to the ways they can serve their communities and be effective leaders. They will know the resources available to them, and have the knowledge to be able to make use of these to affect change. Successful LPA graduates will go on to become social workers, teachers, lawyers, politicians and policy makers, directors of NGO’s, innovators, and other servants of their communities.
Graduation Requirements
Curriculum
Our curriculum at Leadership Preparatory Academy is uniquely designed based on an educational philosophy that puts students at the center of their learning experience. The courses and requirements at LPA were designed to provide students with a comprehensive and rigorous academic life, while providing extra support for some of New Haven's struggling potential leaders.
8.5 Year
LPA seeks to serve students who are not achieving at their highest potential in traditional educational settings. For this reason, we have extended the traditional high school curriculum to include a fifth year, to be completed between 8th and 9th grades. This is an intensive year designed to bring students to a suitable level of achievement in reading, writing, and math. Rather than the often-shaming retention students undergo at other schools when they are not performing at grade level, we believe this system holds true to our mission, as it honors each student as citizens and potential leaders. Rather than casting out our students as unworthy of our educational standards, we work with our students to bring them up to par. This year is not optional, and is required of all students who wish to remain part of the LPA community. The intended results are a standard level of academic development across the school, as well as a buildup of community morale and school pride.
Academic Coursework
Leadership Preparatory Academy offers the traditional courses required for graduation by the State of Connecticut. In many cases, graduates of LPA will not only have achieved the minimum state requirements for graduation, but will have surpassed the state's recommendations for a High School Diploma. At Leadership Preparatory Academy, students will receive daily instruction in mathematics, English, history, science, and foreign language, in addition to the specialty courses described below.
Specialty Courses
Current Events
Each student at LPA will complete a yearly course in Current Events. This course is designed to engender students as citizens of a global community, and to make them knowledgeable about ways in which they can serve as leaders in their communities. Topics covered will change with the passage of time, and common resources may include newspaper publications, broadcasting networks, and advertisements. Sample activities in Current Events might include a class visit to a political protest or demonstration, recording a podcast discussion of a pertinent issue, or drafting and recording a public service announcement on a particular topic.
Leadership Studies
Leadership Studies sits at the core of an LPA education. LPA scholars complete yearly coursework in Leadership Studies as a way to directly engage students with their power as potential leaders. While taking this course, students are constantly encouraged to analyze their roles as learners, citizens, and leaders in their communities. Units covered might include speech writing, debate, historical movements, research, grant writing, and more. It is our intention that this course will lay the foundation for students' conception of themselves as role models and leaders in the global community.
Fine Arts
Artistic expression is an important part of a well-rounded lifestyle. In order to prepare our future leaders for healthy lives as role models for the global community, LPA requires that each student complete several units in the Fine Arts Department. Course offerings may include printmaking, bookbinding, sculpture, painting/drawing, drama, dance, vocal/instrumental music, or culinary arts.
Electives
Students enjoy a rigorous and engaging academic environment from admission to graduation at Leadership Preparatory Academy. In addition to their academic coursework, it is important to foster LPA students' curiosity. For this reason, our curriculum includes opportunities to pursue unique interests, and develop new passions. Elective options may include martial arts, auto-shop, business management, political leadership, or creative writing. For those students whose interests exist outside of LPA's elective offerings, an Independent Study option is available through student appeal to the LPA Administrative Team.