Speciality Centers

An Overview

Specialty schools concentrate on special interests or talents of students. The centers offer Roanoke County students choices to focus their learning experiences and offer rigorous courses to students who have specific interests and career goals. Students must complete an application and be accepted before they enter a specialty center. If students complete the four-year sequence of classes at the center, they will be awarded a special seal on their diploma. All classes will begin at 7:30 a.m. (zero period). Bus transportation will be provided back to the home school only. Parents must transport their students to the specific specialty center in the morning.

Center for Business and Marketing William Byrd High School		Center for Global Studies Northside High School
Center for Engineering Burton Center for Arts and Technology		Center for Mass Communication Studies Burton Center for Arts and Technology
Center for Visual Arts and Museum Studies Burton Center for Arts andTechnology		Center for the Performing Arts Burton Center for Arts and Technology

Center for Business and Marketing
William Byrd High School

The primary emphasis of the Center for Business and Marketing is to utilize appropriate technology to build a solid foundation of business and marketing practices that form the basis for all industry operations. Many fundamental social, economic and legal practices are explored; an emphasis is also placed on employees’ abilities to effectively make decisions in the competitive work environment. Other fundamentals such as financing operations, organizing businesses and marketing particular products and services are also examined and evaluated.

Goals and Objectives:

To develop an appreciation of the American Private Enterprise System
To offer curriculum that will explore key marketing and business concepts while gaining an understanding of the globalization of commerce and industry and the growth of technology
To assist students in identifying their interests and aptitudes to discover the business and marketing careers they will enjoy
To introduce students to the real world of work through job shadowing and cooperative part-time, on-the-job training and classroom simulations
To prepare students for productive employment and for continued learning in the workplace and/or in post-secondary institutions
To develop critical thinking skills and the ability to make decisions and solve problems both creatively and insightfully
To develop the ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral form as well as to work cooperatively with all groups of people (managers, clients, employees, investors, as well as others with vested interests in a business)

Center for Engineering
Burton Center for Arts and Technology

The Center for Engineering offers a four-year advanced curriculum integrating math, science and technology as a study of the profession of engineering. The Center’s curriculum focuses on the development of the theoretical understandings of the engineering discipline and on the practical skills and understandings necessary for any engineer.

Goals and Objectives:

To establish a foundation for the understanding of engineering as a profession
To introduce and cultivate the development of engineering analysis, problem solving and design skills
To integrate mathematical and scientific concepts into practical engineering applications
To provide individual and group hands-on learning experiences for students
To offer real-world engineering experiences through mentoring/internships in a professional setting

Center for Global Studies
Northside High School

The Center for Global Studies is a four-year course of study, which will adjust and accelerate the English and social studies curriculum. Students will be placed into an advanced curriculum that will concentrate on the global community, governments, economics, religions/cultures and social interactions throughout the world. The English and social studies curriculum will be blocked to encourage collaborative instruction between the two areas and to allow extended activities.

Goals and Objectives:

To provide opportunities for students to immerse themselves in an interdisciplinary program centered in Social Studies, English and Foreign Languages
To encourage the study of cultural diversity of our world
To offer a curriculum emphasizing the comparison of governments, cultures and religions of the world
To engage students in international diplomacy by participation in a model U.N.

Center for Mass Communication Studies
Burton Center for Arts and Technology

The Center for Mass Communication is a four-year course of study in the areas of television, radio and print media. Students will study the history and development of the different media, marketing techniques and develop skills necessary to operate a student run radio and TV station and print productions. A supervised internship in the areas of television, radio and print media will be part of the fourth year of study.

Goals and Objectives:

To provide students an opportunity to focus on the major elements of the communications industry
To afford students a hands-on experience in television, radio and print media production
To give students entry level skills into the mass communications field

Center for the Performing Arts
Burton Center for Arts and Technology

The Center for the Performing Arts is a four-year course of study, which will expose talented and interested students to the performing arts. Students will study instrumental music or musical theater and dance and have the opportunity to perform for various events.

Goals and Objectives:

To provide in-depth training in Instrumental Music (Guitar and Ensemble Instruments), Musical Theater and Dance (Modern, Ballet, Jazz and Tap)
To offer knowledge of artistic skills necessary for successful careers in the Arts
To provide instruction by professional faculty and artists-in-residents
To provide opportunities for students to be showcased in the community, throughout the State, and in various key events where students can be critiqued and viewed by professionals in the field

Center for Visual Arts and Museum Studies
Burton Center for Arts and Technology

The Center for Visual Arts offers a four-year accelerated program for students who are talented and motivated in the visual arts. Students accepted into the program will participate in accelerated and enriched artistic experiences that integrate studio work, research, critique and aesthetics in the visual arts.

Speciality Centers

Center for Business and Marketing William Byrd High School

Center for Engineering Burton Center for Arts and Technology

Center for Global Studies Northside High School

Center for Mass Communication Studies Burton Center for Arts and Technology

Center for the Performing Arts Burton Center for Arts and Technology

Center for Visual Arts and Museum Studies Burton Center for Arts and Technology