Jupiter Environmental Research and Field Studies Academy at

Jupiter Community High School Jupiter Community High School, also known as Jupiter High School and JHS, is a Public High School in Jupiter, Florida, United States. JHS is a part of the School District of Palm Beach County and is the northernmost high school in Palm Beach Cou ...

is a four-year

Magnet school In the U.S. education system, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. Normally, a student will attend an elementary school, and this also determines the middle school and high school they attend unless they mo ...

program designed to meet the needs of students who wish to pursue an academic curriculum with emphasis on

environmental studies Environmental studies (EVS or EVST) is a multidisciplinary academic field which systematically studies human behavior, human interaction with the Natural environment, environment. Environmental studies connects principles from the physical sci ...

History

Planning for the Jupiter High School Environmental Research and Field Studies Academy (JERFSA) began during the 1992–93 school year. The recommendation to approve the creation of the academy was submitted in Palm Beach County School Board Report 6G November 4, 1992. JERFSA was started in August 1993 with 75 students, two teachers and funding from the School Board and generous other donations. The first class of 35 students graduated in 1997. Since then the number of students each year has slowly increased and several other staff positions have opened.

Current status

At this time, funds for JERFSA field work are largely provided by parents, student fund raising and assistance from the Partnership for Environmental Education, Inc. The academy currently provides over 75 field activities per year that include cooperative field work with a variety of agencies such as: the Loxahatchee River Environmental Control District, ERM, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, MacArthur State Park,

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, Partnership For Environmental Education, Inc., Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation, Loxahatchee Preserve Nature Center, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and FPL. JERFSA has an Environmental Outreach Program in which students go to elementary schools and present environmental issues utilizing a variety of children's literature materials and field trip opportunities. “Enviroservice” is another Academy program that allows students to work with professionals from a variety of community agencies. Through “Enviroservice” students contribute over two hundred and thirty hours of environmental service every month.

Curriculum

Students in the program enroll in two science courses each year along with other Academy courses. High School courses are taught at the Honors level. College

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(AP), and

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are available to Juniors and Seniors in the academy along with other high school level courses. Students in the Environmental Academy are assigned summer homework and expected to participate in several weekend activities each year.

Field work

As the program name implies, field studies are a large part of the curriculum. The motto of the academy: w''hen one studies environmental science, one must be willing to go into the environment, ''defines the intent of program leaders. Students of the academy visit and study every major

ecosystem An ecosystem (or ecological system) is a system formed by Organism, organisms in interaction with their Biophysical environment, environment. The Biotic material, biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and en ...

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. Each grade level participates in about fifteen field study activities each year; some of these require overnight and weekend stays. All Academy students participate in regular field activities.

Goals

The Environmental Research and Field Studies Academy aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills that are essential to becoming responsible and productive world citizens. Although, students acquire a strong background in the environmental and earth sciences, graduates of JERFSA pursue a wide range of fields following graduation.

Notes

{{Coord, 26.6848, -80.1124, display=title Educational institutions established in 1993 High schools in Palm Beach County, Florida Magnet schools in Florida Public high schools in Florida 1993 establishments in Florida