J+C

Founded in 1984, duPont Manual High School’s Journalism & Communications Magnet is a unique and exciting high school program that has grown in the last decade to become a model of 21st century learning, challenging students to be innovative, enterprising, creative, and well-versed in media and technology. In 2012, the school’s SBDM council voted to change the magnet’s name from Communications/Media Arts to Journalism & Communication. The change distinguishes the magnet from other programs in Jefferson County Public Schools with similar names but with key differences in mission and scope. The change was also meant to more closely identify the magnet with college programs of similar scope. Students come to J&C with a number of interests and ambitions — most often related to the fields of journalism, broadcasting, photography, graphic design, public relations, business communication, public speaking, politics, and advertising — but these areas of knowledge are applicable to any career or profession. Nationally recognized and awarded, J&C students take exciting and instantly applicable communications-related courses under teachers with professional experience. Students also select AP courses, core content courses and other electives that Manual offers to complete their schedule. The program prides itself on a number of desirable qualities:

• Students have real world decision-making power as the student press. All students naturally gain confidence when they see their work printed or uploaded, beginning their freshman year. They lead and manage projects and staff members, especially in their junior & senior years in editor and producer positions. Our internship program allows students to engage with the professional world, earning school credit while gaining career experience with businesses and organizations.
• Students enjoy a close-knit, family-like atmosphere. An emphasis on respect, cooperation, and personal support between students and teachers is a program priority. For example, a summer retreat is held annually for students of publication staffs to learn leadership and problem-solving skills, as well as develop friendships.
• There are numerous opportunities to travel domestically and internationally each year to conventions (such as the fall 2013 National Scholastic Press Association annual convention in Boston), workshops (such as the 2012 media workshop in China through the Summex program), and reporting opportunities (such as the 2013 Inauguration).
• Students have access to superior technology. Our computer labs are comprised of iMacs with superior graphics technology. Our photojournalism students can check out professional lenses. We have the best Adobe software products, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and InDesign, installed on every computer for page layout, web design, videography, and photography.
• Personal attention from teachers is standard. J&C teachers go the extra mile for their students to provide opportunities or just lend an ear. The teachers are in constant collaboration with one another — an authentic Professional Learning Community — in order to help students personally and academically. By the time students graduate, J&C teachers have usually worked with students over four years in a myriad of settings, enabling teachers to understand and advocate for their students in a more knowledgable way.

MST

The Math Science Technology Program was created in 1984 and is designed to provide a rigorous curriculum that prepares students to be successful in any academic program at any college in the country.

Academic rigor and research is expected of all teachers through the use of challenging homework, projects, class work, and extracurricular activities that will develop good problem solving and critical-thinking skills. Hard work is expected to be the norm, not the exception of teachers and students alike.

Our curriculum… MST students have a core curriculum of required courses and access to 33 AP courses, the largest offering by any high school in the country. Students who achieve at high levels may also qualify to take classes at the University of Louisville.

Extra-curricular… Manual students have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of science and math competitions. However, MST students also participate in a wide variety of clubs sponsored by the four other magnet programs at duPont Manual.

Manual is active in Science Olympiad, Kentucky Junior Science and Humanities Competition, Kentucky Junior Academy of Science, Intel Talent Search, National Science Bowl, and Science /Math Proficiency Competition. Manual offers the American High School Math Examination and sponsors a Math team.

Manual is one of only three schools in the US to host it’s own accredited regional science fair, the duPont Manual Regional Science and Engineering Fair, which sends successful projects to the Kentucky Science & Engineering Fair and the Intel Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).