The Biomedical pathway of the SciMaTech academy has a new set of requirements in order to graduate with honors, leaving seniors stressed and struggling to fulfill them.

Starting last year, Jackson-Reed became affiliated with the National Academy Foundation (NAF). To become a NAF school, the district must appeal to be NAF affiliated, then different schools will bid on which school will become one. The biggest perk of being a NAF affiliated school is the funding commonly granted to at-risk programs that may not have the money otherwise to offer the opportunities provided by NAF.   

Originally, Jackson-Reed’s Hospitality and Tourism academy and Information Technology academy became NAF affiliates. This year the SciMaTech academy, and Biomedical Sciences pathway, specifically, met all the criteria to also be considered a NAF academy.

“Because we [are] considered a NAF academy of health sciences now, there are certain requirements we as a school must adapt,” said Danielle Krafft, the science department chair, coordinator and lead instructor of the Biomedical pathway. Krafft remarked that these requirements are not really a change, as they have existed for the last 10 years. She added that she has always expected these requirements of her best students, but they weren’t on paper. 

  This year, the academy introduced a point system, called SciMaTech Academy Point Pathway, or SAPP. “We’re trying to be more transparent, so that students understand the expectations, especially 9th graders,” Krafft said. 

The number of points a student has determines if they will graduate from the pathway with honors or not. Twenty four points and below is a normal graduation, and 25 points and above means the student qualifies for honors. 

Every course a student takes within their pathway is two points, every on-level required core science is one point, and students can also get points for any other SciMaTech-affiliated classes. Other opportunities for obtaining points are things like leadership roles in Biomedical clubs, or volunteering in the community. “The whole point of the point system is to make [students] the best possible JR graduate,” Krafft said. 

Krafft emphasized that current seniors will graduate from the program, but may not graduate with honors. Krafft said that for those students who are hoping to graduate with honors, there are many opportunities for points, such as taking on leadership roles, volunteering, SciMaTech extracurricular activities, and more. 

Since the system was released this year, seniors are struggling with it. Senior Sage Hudson has been in the Biomedical pathway since she was a sophomore. She described feelings of irritation over the new point system. Hudson noted how the system would have been easier if they were introduced freshman or sophomore year, but since it was introduced as a senior it gives her less time to complete the points she needs. 

The point system requires Biomed students to take physics their junior year, however unaware of this, many seniors took AP chemistry instead. Because of communication issues and confusion during virtual school, Krafft compromised with seniors, recognizing AP chemistry in-lue of physics. From now on, every junior is required to take physics.  

Seniors are also required to complete 120 hours of internships to graduate with honors.

Senior Josie Diggs-Galligan has been in the pathway since freshman year. “It made me anxious; it made a lot of us anxious. We’re graduating so soon and there’s another bump in the road,” she said. Both Diggs-Galligan and Hudson wished that the points could’ve been lessened for the current seniors.

“There’s just sort of a general anxiety in our class now,” Diggs-Galligan said, noting that even some of the best students don’t think they will be able to complete the requirements. 

“We’re panicking to graduate,” Hudson said.•