ORCA - Ocean Research College Academy
ORCA is an innovative early college academy for high school students, who can earn up to two years of college credit while completing their high school graduation requirements. Most ORCA students graduate with an associate degree in addition to a high school diploma from their sponsoring high school.
The ORCA experience is the only early college of its kind in the country, designed around the best of what we know about teaching and learning. The program utilizes the study of the ocean as inspiration for our approaches to learning, building on the power of engaging in active research in the local environment and across disciplines. The innovative early college design allows similar-age students to work in a cohort and with the same talented college faculty over two years in a dynamic facility. The rigor of a full-time college program and significant research opportunities are made possible by the program’s focus on building a resilient community.
Read this National Marine Educators article on Ardi Kveven and ORCA students conducting research last year: "Charismatic MegaEducator Ardi Kveven Revolutionizes Marine Education"
Learn about recent student presentations to members of the Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program
ORCA is located in a state of the art facility on the Everett Waterfront at the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Center. With two generous grants from the National Science Foundation, ORCA was able to build an oceanographic research lab for students and a dedicated 34' research vessel.
The lab is complete with a 120 gallon seawater aquarium, fume hood, and fully equipped student islands. The lab was designed for collaborative and independent research. The custom designed research vessel includes a bow door for equipment deployment and potential beach landings. Adjoining the lab are five instructional classrooms, a common room, lunchroom and faculty offices. The core vision of ORCA resonates in the space. Students grow as active, responsible, inquisitive learners by collaborating with other students and faculty, conducting scientific research of their own design and applying critical thinking skills from all academic disciplines. The proximity to the water is ideal for students, enabling opportunities for daily monitoring and independent research projects. The ORCA space and location complement the State of Possession Sound research at ORCA, facilitating student development of a sense of place and an understanding of the complexities of the marine ecosystem.
What Students Say
"I began ORCA seeking its smaller learning community environment and doing college work with other high school students who have similar interests and goals. I continued ORCA because of its amazing faculty, challenging coursework, preparation for my future, and the opportunity that it provides to maximize my ability to grow as a learner. I not only gained experience in science and writing to prepare me for medical school, but I also learned to appreciate the humanities which helped me grow as a conceptual thinker and person." Tajanna Stinn, ORCA graduate 2009. Seattle Pacific University Graduate 2011. King's College London Master of Science in Immunology 2014.
