Guidelines

2025-26 Academic Year

Overview:

In order to best prepare our students for careers in the STEM fields of the future, American Academy offers an optional engineering certificate program. The focus of this program is to best prepare students for advanced engineering education in high school and college. In a world where the job market is becoming increasingly technological in nature, a strong foundation in critical thinking and technical skills will differentiate your student from their peers.

Students wishing to graduate from American Academy with a certificate in engineering will formally enroll in the certification program as early as 6th Grade and successfully complete at least one STEM extracurricular class in each of the following disciplines: robotics, programming, design and mechanics. Additionally, an independently-researched and independently-constructed capstone project in eighth grade is required.

Enrollment:

Enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year opens on August 1st for all AA students. To ensure smooth programming, please enroll by September 1st, especially as an 8th grader, though enrollment remains open year-round.

Students in grades 6-8 interested in engineering certification must complete the enrollment form and submit the $50 annual fee through the American Academy School Store. Enrollment is available throughout the year, with courses credited retroactively toward certification if the fee is paid within the current school year or earlier (before 8th-grade graduation).

Benefits of annual enrollment include:

• 20% discount on extracurricular classes within the four engineering disciplines: robotics, programming, design and mechanics 
• 8th Grade Capstone support: Free Arduino Robotics kit, mentoring support and check-ins from Engineering Instructor, Engineering binder to track progress  
• Certification recognition: Certificate of completion upon graduation
• High school endorsement: Support from Engineering teachers to show completion of engineering classes, descriptions of skills and potentially waiving some coursework

Our certified graduates historically excel in high school engineering classes, the Technology Student Association, as well as First Robotics teams, often starting strong even as freshmen. Many of our certified graduates go on to major in engineering in college. 

Since its inception in 2018, American Academy has awarded 34 engineering certificates (13 at Castle Pines, 15 at Motsenbocker and 6 at Lincoln Meadows). 

Course registrations are available on the school store, beginning August 1st. If fewer than the minimum required students enroll in a course (typically less than 10), it may be canceled, and a refund issued. Otherwise, enrollment and participation fees are non-refundable.

After submitting the enrollment fee, students will receive a personalized program schedule and transcript and can book an appointment with their middle school Engineering Instructor for course completion guidance.

Please read the American Academy Engineering Certificate Program Handbook 25-26 for more information.