The Center for Advanced Technologies is a public school magnet program housed at Lakewood Senior High School, located in the southernmost part of Pinellas County, on the west coast of Florida. Curricular offerings within the Center include mathematics, science, computer education, multimedia applications, and research; other coursework is completed within Lakewood Senior High School. CAT opened its doors in August, 1990 to a class of eighty-five freshmen; each year an additional class of approximately one hundred fifty students is added. The enrollment for the 2016-2017 school year is around four hundred, grades nine through twelve, with one hundred percent of students planning to attend college. Funding for the program comes from Pinellas County Public Schools, local corporations, and partnerships. The CAT program is striving to be better than ever, and is constantly growing and expanding thanks to dedicated faculty, parents, and students.
The CAT Program has always had a rigorous Science curriculum. Starting as a 9th grader a CAT student is required to take Physics 1 Honors and Research 1. As a sophomore, a CAT student is expected to take Biology 1 Honors, Chemistry 1 Honors and Research 2. During their junior and senior years, a CAT student will be expected to take either AP Physics 1 & Lab, AP Physics C: Mechanics & Lab, AP Chemistry & Lab or AP Biology & Lab. Research 3, an elective during either the junior or senior year, allows students to design an experiment based on what they have learned in class.
The CAT Program has a variety of technology course available. Freshmen will be required to take Digital Information Technology (DIT). As a sophomore, CAT students will take Foundations of C# Programming. During junior year, students can choose between Cybersecurity 1 and AP Computer Science A. Procedural Programming (Oculus) is available junior or senior year, but should be taken with or after taking AP Computer Science. Technology electives include New Media Digital Fundamentals (Photoshop) and New Media Digital Fundamentals 2 (Advanced Photoshop and graphics); these classes can be taken any year. As a special elective, the class Network Operations is available. This class is for students who are interested in fixing computers/tablets, or developing websites and phone applications.
Must complete Robotics 1 as pre-requisite for upper level classes
The CAT Program also provides Engineering classes for those interested in robots and mechanics. The four robotics classes can be taken during each year of high school, yet the classes can be taken at any time. The classes include: Foundations of Robotics, Robotic Design Essentials, Robotic Systems, and Robotic Applications.
Students must have completed Algebra 1 Honors as a pre-requisite for program entrance
Math is an equally rigorous subject in the CAT Program. As a freshman, students will take Algebra 2 Honors. 10th graders will take Geometry or Pre-Calculus, due to some students taking Geometry in previous school years. Juniors will take Pre-Calculus or AP Calculus, AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC. Seniors can take AP Statistics, or AP Calculus AB, or AP Calculus BC. The class Math Analysis Honors is only available for seniors.
