Jimmy Fritz takes a bus to Colonial Forge High School on weekday mornings, only to board another bus five minutes later.
He then makes the trip to Stafford High School, where he takes four classes: Earth science, introduction to engineering, advanced geometry and English.
Jimmy, 14, is among 72 Stafford County ninth-graders in the Stafford Academy for Technology, which prepares students for careers in science, technology, engineering and math.
"I like doing things with my hands, making things and designing things," Jimmy said. He returns to Colonial Forge at 11:25 a.m. for his non-academy classes.
In January, the Stafford school system received a $120,000 state grant to start academies at Stafford, North Stafford and Brooke Point high schools this academic year. It's the first phase of a plan officials hope will lead to a career and technical education center.
Neighboring Spotsylvania County has a Career and Technical Center.
Academies at Stafford and North Stafford focus on math and engineering. Brooke Point's offers an information technology track.
This year's students were divided into four groups, said Mary Anne Spinella, supervisor of career and technical education. Each will take the same academy classes all four years of high school.
Last Monday morning, 16 academy students attended an introduction to engineering course at North Stafford.
Thad Matthews, 14, who hopes to attend Auburn and major in mechanical engineering, said his dad used to be an Air Force mechanic.
"I just wanted to follow after that," said Thad, who was bused to the class from Brooke Point.
Aisha Haynesworth, 15, who travels to North Stafford from Mountain View, said her parents encouraged her to apply for the academy because it would impress colleges. She wants to major in architectural or interior design.
"We get to do a lot of hands-on stuff," she said. "You're not always stuck doing writing assignments."
Gene Vest, who teaches the engineering course, said he likes the academy partly because its students are in the same grade level. He teaches some classes with varying age groups.
"It gives the kids a path to follow," Vest said. "They know for the next four years what they're going to be doing."
Students on the science and engineering track, for instance, will eventually take digital electronics and engineering design and development.
Administrators hope to start a biomedical sciences track at Mountain View and a geospatial technology track at Colonial Forge next school year.
Sue Rosin, who teaches an academy Earth science class, said teachers work together to explain to students the relationship among science, English and math.
"They seem to think very much alike--very interested in any type of topic related to science inquiry and developing things and technology," she said. "You can see that engineer's mind at work."
Jimmy said he thinks academy students will form a bond.
"We'll be a tight group and know how to help each other," he said. "I think that everyone is kind of on the same page."
Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
Email: jbranscome@freelancestar.com