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Freestyle Academy of Communication Arts & Technology

1299 Bryant Ave, Mt. View, CA 94040 T 650-940-4650 x5090
2 Required Classes: English and Digital Media 3rd/Elective Class:  + Animation or Design or Film

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What am I going to learn?
  2. How am I going to learn it?
  3. How will this help me?
  4. Who may attend?
  5. What are the Entrance Requirements?
  6. What is the enrollment procedure?
  7. When are classes held?
  8. What will my day look like? Shadowing?
  9. Will there be food at Freestyle?
  10. Can I enroll in Freestyle and participate inextracurricular activities?
  11. Where is Freestyle?
  12. Will transportation be provided?
  13. How many units will I get?
  14. Do Freestyle classes count for admissions to the UC and CSU systems?
  15. Can I take a class at Freestyle without enrolling in the whole program?
  16. Is this a one or two year program?
  17. Are there any AP/Honors classes at Freestyle?
  18. What do I need for Freestyle Classes?

1. What am I going to learn?

2. How am I going to learn it?

3. How Will This Help Me?

There is a body of research that has shown arts education engages students in learning. When students are engaged, truancy and dropout rates decline. Student involvement in the arts is linked to higher academic performance, increased standardized test scores, and greater involvement in community service. Studies have demonstrated that students who attend schools where the arts are integrated into the classroom curriculum outperform their peers in math and reading who did not have an arts integrated curriculum.

In the last two decades, California’s dominance of the Entertainment & Digital Media industry has continued unabated. In 2001, its share of the total Creative Economy was only 58.8%. By 2010, that had grown to 65.9%. By 2019, the share of all Creative Economy employees working in Entertainment had grown to 71.9%. This speaks to the massive technological changes that have taken place over the last few years, and how this industry has successfully harnessed that change (think: Smart TVs, streaming platforms, etc.) for their own benefit. While Architecture and Related Services reported the fastest growth over the past five years, Entertainment & Digital Media has seen the largest growth of employment, with over 152,000 jobs added in the state between 2014 and 2019.

Overall, jobs in Entertainment & Digital Media span six main categories, with most of them concentrated in Emerging Digital Media (45%) and Film (18%). Occupations in these sectors include Data Processing and Custom Computer Programmers, Internet Publishing and Broadcasting, Artists, Artist Managers, and Motion Picture/Video Distributors. Other subsectors, such as Professional Services (including Marketing Researchers, Graphic Design or Photography) and Publishers (Newspaper Publishers), account for far fewer jobs (15% and 16% respectively), but are still integral to the industry as a whole.

Based on data from 2019, the most recent complete data available for the 2021 Otis College Report on the Creative Economy.

2021 Otis Report on the Creative Economy of California Employment Sectors
2021 Otis Report on the Creative Economy of California Wages
2021 Otis Report on the Creative Economy of California Employment Growth
Otis College of Art & Design (2021). 2021 Otis Report on the Creative Economy of California. Retrieved from Otis College Website: https://www.otis.edu/creative-economy/2021/entertainment-digital-services

Specific information about the Bay Area from the Otis Report

Entertainment & Digital Media has the largest presence in the Bay Area out of all the creative industries, attributable to the concentration of tech jobs in the region (a great many tech jobs come under the Emerging Digital Media heading). Over 81% of wage and salary workers in the Bay Area work in Entertainment & Digital Media, and 79% of contractor workers are employed in the industry. Relative to its share of wage and salary employees (4%), Architecture and Related Services has a large number of contract workers (10%). Of all regions, creative employment grew fastest in the Bay Area, with wage and salary employment growing 46% (1,700 jobs) between 2014 and 2019, and contract employment growing 8% (6,500 jobs) over the same period.

2021 Otis Report on the Creative Economy of California Bay Area Change in Employment
2021 Otis Report on the Creative Economy of California Bay Area Share and Average Wage

At Freestyle Academy, you will not only strengthen the necessary writing, speaking, and research skills you will need in college and in the workforce, but you will also learn critical communication skills that will help you express your ideas in creative, exciting and original ways such as but not limited to:

4. Who may attend?
The program is open to juniors and seniors at Mountain View HS, Los Altos HS, and Alta Vista HS. MVLA does not allow students in Option B / Independent Study to be simultaneously enrolled at Freestyle Academy. First year seniors are accepted into classes when there is still space in classes after all returning second year seniors have been confirmed into their classes. More info about first year senior classes.

5. What are the Entrance Requirements?

6. What is the enrollment procedure?
Apply online by the February break through https://freestyleacademy.rocks/apply

Why does Freestyle use a lottery system?
Freestyle was originally created and envisioned to be another choice for those students who are "just doing school", not necessarily excelling in school or students with art or technical experience in hopes of getting these kinds of students once again excited about school. We are not looking for the "best" student or even a particular type of student. Our application process does not require any experience and does not require a portfolio to match the reason why Freestyle was created. This would hopefully entice students who are "just doing school" to apply. Our only requirement is that you must be a Junior or Senior within MVLAUHSD. We want a mix of all students and a lottery has resulted in a good mix of all levels of creative and passionate students with all levels of talents, skills and enthusiasm levels. More detailed info about the lottery system can be found here.

7. When are the 3 classes held?
Basically, classes are held during Periods 1, 2, & 3 for AM Session or Periods 5, 6, & 7 for PM Session. Students choose either AM or PM Session to attend Freestyle. The NORMAL schedule is posted here.

8. What will my day look like?
All students (Juniors and Seniors) can choose to attend Freestyle from EITHER AM or PM block schedule below. Juniors and Seniors will attend Freestyle for English, Digital Media and one Elective (Film OR Design OR Animation) for a total of 30 Units of credit for a single year. There is a limit of 80 Juniors and 80 Seniors due to equipment constraints for each AM and PM session. Juniors and Seniors will be in separate classes, not combined together in any class. This breaks down to a maximum of 20 students in each of the Core classes and 13-15 students in each of the Production classes with a capacity of 80 students for each AM and PM session or a total maximum capacity of 160 students.

Freestyle Academy Schedule Choices

Current Juniors are automatically admitted to Freestyle for their Senior year and current Juniors will have first choice as to which block (AM or PM session) to attend Freestyle during their Senior Year. Any other remaining Senior seats will be filled in with new incoming Senior students. More info about first year senior classes.

Schedule:
Here's a link to detailed information about our schedule.

Shadowing or campus visits
Interested candidates can contact leo.florendo@freestyleacademy.rocks for shadowing a student or campus visits.

9. Will there be food at Freestyle?
Students are responsible for their own meals. A microwave and mini-fridge are available for student use in the Digital Media room.

10. Can I enroll in Freestyle and participate in sport, drama, or extracurricular activities?
If you choose Option 1 AM Session above, you can participate in an afternoon activity.

11. Where is Freestyle?
Freestyle is located behind the MVLA District Office and on the east side of the MVHS Back Parking Lot.

Freestyle Map

12. Will transportation be provided?
No transportation is necessary for students at Mountain View and Alta Vista High Schools.

TRANSPORTATION FOR LAHS STUDENTS ONLY
Students at Los Altos High School can either drive themselves or use a free shuttle van transportation service sponsored by the district as described below. For students driving themselves, free non-permit parking is available on streets near the Freestyle Campus. You can purchase either an LAHS or MVHS parking permit at those schools in order to park in the MVHS Student Parking Lot - both LAHS and MVHS Permits will be honored.

No car or car pool options - You can take the shuttle service provided with this schedule to/from Freestyle/LAHS.

Please contact Leo.Florendo@freestyleacademy.rocks for questions or to reserve a seat on the van.

13. How many units will I get?
Successful completion of the Freestyle coursework in one school year will get all students 10 credits each of the 3 classes taken at Freestyle for a total of 30 credits. For completion of 6 classes in two years at Freestyle, students will receive a total of 60 credits - 20 English credits and 40 elective credits.

14. Do Freestyle classes count for admissions to the UC and CSU systems?
English at Freestyle is a college prep, UC, and CSU approved "b" course.
Other classes at Freestyle are all a college prep, UC, and CSU approved "f" (visual arts elective) course.

15. Can I take a single class at Freestyle without enrolling in the whole program?
Because Freestyle is an interdisciplinary program, with all classes supporting the project based learning, students will not be able to take individual classes in selected periods of the day. Student MUST take all 3 classes at Freestyle.

16. Is this a one or two year program?
Freestyle is designed as a two-year program, with students working on more advanced work in the second year. Any remaining Senior seats in any class will be filled in with new incoming Senior students. More info about first year senior classes.

17. Are there any AP/Honors classes at Freestyle?
We do not offer any AP or Honors classes at Freestyle.

18. What do I need for Freestyle Classes?
You are not required to have any equipment to do your projects at Freestyle. We provide all equipment/software necessary for you to create productions. You can optionally/and voluntarily purchase your own equipment. If available, students can check out computers for use at home for the entire year - information will provided to students at the beginning of the year. More equipment info is posted on https://freestyleacademy.rocks/equipment. Here is what is provided for you at Freestyle for your productions