American Heritage School Provides Its Students With The Resources That They Need To Succeed By Deborah Welky
The American Heritage School is a college preparatory school where students from PK3 through 12th grade receive a rigorous and wellrounded education that prepares them for college and beyond. The school’s college guidance program is extensive and begins in the ninth grade. American Heritage was founded in 1965 in Plantation and opened its Delray Beach campus in 1999. Melanie Hoffman, public relations director for the school, noted that students at American Heritage receive more personalized attention than in a public school setting. “The resources available to them are tremendous,” Hoffman said. “Students and parents both appreciate the ability to design a course load that meets their needs.” At American Heritage, the curriculum is rigorous, providing the Stanford
Math Program for high-achieving students in the Lower School and more than 40 Advanced Placement and honors courses for high school students. In the Lower School, students learn how to write and communicate at an early age. In the Upper School, the curriculum has honors courses in literature, journalism, economics, psychology and history, as well as business/ entrepreneurship, speech and debate, and pre-law classes. Pre-law classes are taught daily by attorneys practicing in their fields. It is a pre-professional curriculum for stu-
dents who want to pursue the possibility of a career in law. Courses are offered in business law, criminal law, criminal procedures, constitutional law, juvenile law, corporate law, current legal matters, homicide law, evidence, trial advocacy, mock trial, moot court and law internships. American Heritage boasts the top mock trial team in Palm Beach County and the top two moot court teams in Florida. Some of the more unique courses are e-commerce, computer science, marine science, environmental health and a pre-medical honors program. That program includes the study of medical terminology, embryology, physical exam, anatomy and physiology, pathology, forensic science, organic chemistry and medical internships. Like in prelaw, pre-med classes are taught daily wellington the magazine | june 2016
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