In an attempt to totally embrace the philosophy of "no child left behind," the Department of Arts Education of the Jefferson County School system has developed a theatre program that allows gifted students in theatre the opportunity to study their craft in a professionally-oriented program intended for serious theatre students. Each year, a select group of students is chosen to attend the theatre academy that is housed at Shades Valley High School. These students will attend Shades Valley as regular students but will become members of the nationally-acclaimed Shades Valley Theatre Academy.