TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — A once-segregated high school in Troy that shut down in 1970 reopened Wednesday as a dual enrollment center and career technical school.

Before it closed in 1971 and was integrated into Charles Henderson High School, Academy Street High School was a segregated school for Black students only. Now, in its reinvention 56 years later, Academy Street Career Innovation Center aims to prepare all students for life in the workforce. 

“When the students are here we refer to them as employees,” said Principal Casey Moore. “We give them the opportunity to serve in management roles as well as staff roles.

“They actually serve as supervisors in the program they serve as IT managers, public relations directors, so these are their programs.” 

LOOKING BACK: Historic Academy Street High School reopens

Technical skills aren’t the only element that students need to be prepared for. Academy Street also works to develop students’ soft skills like communication and problem solving. 

“We also have our aspire program which is a partnership with our local industries and community members where they come in and teach soft skills each Friday to our students making sure they have the technical skills they need but also the employability skills they need to be successful,” Moore said.

The Career Innovation Center provides programs in mechatronics, electrical line work, computer science, aerospace engineering and public safety, which are broken into EMS fire safety and patrolling. But, even students pursuing other fields can use the programs to their advantage.

“I plan to be an attorney when I get older and graduate and this helps me know what can be done right and wrong,” said sophomore EMS student, Samyria Williams.

For some students planning to enter the fields they study at Academy Street, they say being the first generation of the school’s new era provides them motivation in completing their studies and moving to the working world.

“It makes me feel special, especially,” said sophomore mechatronics student, Daniel Burdick. “Going to this school gives me a bunch of great opportunities and gives me a ton of ways to get a head start in real life.”

“I know a lot of people before me didn’t have this opportunity,” said sophomore electrical line work student, Massai Aucy. “This program just begun so I feel good to be one of the first to do it.” 

Students become eligible in their sophomore year, allowing them to get two certifications. The school will hold a ribbon cutting for its reopening and the renovation of its gym later this year.