It is not unusual for those students referred to the Academy by the judicial system to be in court-ordered outpatient treatment. Students know that Black Hills Careers Academy is a school of high expectations. Graduation means documented success in all academic areas , entering the world of work with a careers portfolio , and developing improved thinking abilities and character expectations that can help them avoid substance abuse. A day at the Academy begins with an in-school breakfast and the chance to visit with classmates and staff. Teachers know that, above all else, they must be positive role models for young people who may have grown up dealing daily with dysfunctional adults.
Breakfast is a time when students can affirm the staff's consistent character.
All students start the day with clean slates despite any problems the day before. From breakfast, it is on to classes in rooms physically structured to feel like school, where teams of two teachers work with small groups. That way, one teacher is always free to offer individual help while the other continues to lead the group. There are daily lessons in math, science, language arts, and social sciences. Offered three times a week, instrumental enrichment activities are paper and pencil exercises viewed by students as challenging puzzles.