SJHA Technology

Founded in 1863, the Academy is the second oldest public high school in the state of California. “Bulldog Pride” is alive at SJHA as witnessed by the entire San Francisco Bay Area every Thanksgiving at the “Big Bone” football game. This traditional Thanksgiving Day football game is one of the oldest in the state and has occurred continuously since 1943.

Future graduates will join a proud and prestigious group of alumni, including Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, Congressman Mike Honda, former Congressman Don Edwards, opera star and Opera San Jose founder Irene Dalis, and KGO South Bay News Bureau Chief, Rigo Chacon.

The San Jose High Academy community invites you to take a closer look at the special programs, challenges, and opportunities we offer to the families of San Jose and the south San Francisco Bay Area:

Pre-Engineering Tech Lab

This course is designed as an introductory course in the use of technology to solve problems and to gain an understanding of how technology affects our daily lives. Students in this course develop at least two design projects that follow the elements of the MYP technical design cycle and its rubric for evaluation. Course curriculum includes, but is not limited to PC repair, the safe use of tools in the workplace, the MYP design cycle, software introduction of CAD (Computer Assisted Drafting), Office suite, graphics, and web applications. This course is the introductory course for the CTE vocational field in Information Technology feeding into the capstone courses of applications and programming.

Pre-Engineering Tech Lab Advanced

This is the concentrator course in the Career and Technology Education (CTE) Information Technology vocational offerings. Students who have completed Pre-Engineering Tech Lab continue in this course working on in-depth projects with robotic and vocational skills applications. Students develop projects utilizing the design process of investigation, design, develop, and assess. Students develop their skills by working on community involvement projects to the school and community. Students in this course are required to enter at least one engineering and science competition during the term of the course.

Computer Science (IB) (ROP)

This is a two-year course of study, which follows the International Baccalaureate syllabus for compute science. IB computer science has a holistic approach to the world of computers that extends beyond programming by embracing system analysis, societal concerns, hardware and Operating Systems issues, and applications in the workplace.
The first year of study introduces the student to the programming language (JAVA) covering seven basic programming concepts needed for mastery in their second year as outlined by IB. This year is the concentrator course in our CTE Information Technology program of study.
Students in the second year of study are expected to complete a dossier (major programming work) to be submitted to IB for evaluation. They are also required to sit for two IB written exam in the spring. This course is a honors accredited course for the UC system and is a capstone course in our CTE vocational program offerings.

ROP Computer Applications

This course deals with the development of applications skills needed in the workplace. Career and job search skills are a cornerstone of the school to work course. All Aspects of Industry (AAI) objectives are integrated in the curriculum planning. Student in this course learn the Office suite of programs and how they are applied within the world of work. This course is a capstone course in our CTE Information Technology program of study.

Robotics

This is a non-credit club/team involvement open to all students to learn robotics systems and to build a competitive robot for the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology) competition held in the spring each year. The team works closely with engineers from sponsoring companies and most of the work is done during non-school hours on a voluntary basis.

StRUT (Students Recycling Used Technology)

This is a program of collaboration between local schools, Mission College, and local industries, to recycle used technical equipment by donating industry surplus to schools for learning purposes by students before final disposal through technical waste companies. Students are provided technical curriculum and hands-on experience with computer repair and configuration. PCs are placed and maintained throughout the school community in labs, special ed., science, and the home loan program to students