DECA Difference
At DECA, we are intentional about everything we do. From the time our students are in kindergarten to the time they graduate and go off to college, we light the path for them to find their way to and through college. It's never a sprint at the end. It is a constant, steady walk along the college-going path.
Ashley overman, Deca college liaison
Teachers are Advisors
At DECA, all teachers play strong advisory roles in students' lives. It is this ongoing investment in relationships that raises expectations and reinforces behaviors that prepare our students for college.
Community Connections
We understand the importance of connecting our students with hands-on, project-based learning experiences that bring together what they're learning in school with real-world career pathways.
To that end, we have garnered community support from all corners of the city. Since opening our doors, DECA students have completed over 2,500 job shadows and over 500 unpaid internships all with local Dayton businesses. Students have also volunteered over 75,000 hour of community service in the Dayton area.
Gateways
Our Gateway framework requires students to take an active role in their own education to best prepare them for college and beyond. Simply put, we have high expectations. In addition to their regular coursework, all DECA students must complete the following to graduate:
- 100+ hours of community service
- 3 job shadows
- 2 non-paid internships
- Take the ACT twice
- Maintain 95% attendance, where missed time is made up at a 2:1 ratio
- 7 literary analysis papers
- 20-page autobiography
- College visits and college applications
- Minimum of three college courses
On-site ACT Prep
All DECA students are REQUIRED to take the ACT twice. In preparation for this important test, we provide a free, tailored course where all Juniors receive ACT preparation twice a week from a certified instructor on-site during the regular school day.
