California Heritage Youthbuild Academy

The mission of the California Heritage Academy (chyba) is to offer low-income unemployed and undereducated youth ages 16-24,who have previously dropped out or aged out of high school, a unique education program that successfully prepares them for a high school diploma and strengthens their academic, personal, leadership,critical thinking, and technical skills towards success in careers, post-secondary education, and life. It is the mission of the school to help students develop basic academic skills, to educate them to the greatest extent possible so that they become 21st century students who are active learners and responsible and productive citizens. The goals of this school are to strive to assess current academic achievement and to recognize and intervene if deficits are evident. In addition, the purpose of this school is to provide students with a rich and full academic experience so that they can build on this firm foundation of basic skills in futurre years currently serving 100 students.the school's overarching goal is to use innovative learning methods to challenge students to meet high expectations and rigorous standards and to prepare them to live meaningful lives as active, educated, engaged, self-sufficient adults who are responsible for themselves, their families and communities.in order to prepare young people for life, college, and the technological and knowledge demands of the workplace, chyba will combine a rigorous, standards-based, academic curriculum emphasizing literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, and technology with vocational training resulting in industry recognized certifications in career tracks such as construction, hospitality services, and nursing. The school's explicit focus on career skill building is supllemented by a hands-on curriculum in leadership and community and critical awareness of important global issues. Students also earn credits by contributing to the community by building affordable new housing or refurbishing existing housing for local low income communities at worksite "contruction labs".