---
title: Blog - Acceleration Academies (16)
description: Stories and insights from Acceleration Acedmies (16)
---

[![acceleration academies logo](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/wp-content/themes/acceleration-academies/library/images/placeholder/aa-logo.png) ![acceleration academies logo](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/wp-content/themes/acceleration-academies/library/images/placeholder/aa-logo-footer.png)](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/)

- The Program
  
  « Back 
    - [High School Completion](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/high-school-completion/)
    - [Our Flexible Approach](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/our-flexible-approach/)
    - [Personalized Teaching](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/personalized-teaching/)
    - [Career Coaching](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/career-coaching/)
    - [Meet Our Graduates](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/ourgraduates/)
    - [Social Support & Aid](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/social-support-aid/)
    - [Common Questions](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/the-program/common-questions/)
    - [High School Diploma vs. GED](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/ged-vs-diploma?hsLang=en)
- Our Locations
  
  « Back 
    - Florida 
          - [Broward County](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/florida/broward-county/)
          - [Duval County](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/florida/duval-county/)
          - [Escambia County](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/florida/escambia-county/)
          - [Hillsborough County](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/florida/hillsborough-county/)
          - [Lee County](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/florida/lee-county/)
          - [Marion County](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/florida/marion-county/)
          - [Miami-Dade County](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/florida/miami-dade-county/)
          - [Santa Rosa County](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/florida/santa-rosa-acceleration-academies/)
          - [Sarasota County](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/florida/sarasota-county/)
          - [St. Lucie County](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/florida/stlucie-county/)
    - Georgia 
          - [Cobb County](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/georgia/cobb-county/)
          - [DeKalb County](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/georgia/dekalb-county/)
          - [Gwinnett County](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/georgia/gwinnett-county/)
    - Nevada 
          - [Clark County](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/nevada/clark-county/)
    - Ohio 
          - [Cincinnati](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/ohio/cincinnati/)
    - South Carolina 
          - [Lowcountry](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/south-carolina/lowcountry/)
          - [Myrtle Beach/Conway](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/south-carolina/carolina-shores/)
    - Texas 
          - [Ector County](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/texas/ector-county/)
    - Washington 
          - [Bethel](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-locations/washington/bethel/)
- About Us
  
  « Back 
    - [Our Accreditation](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-accreditation/)
    - [Our Team](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/our-team/)
    - [News](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/news/)
    - [Blog](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/blog/)
    - [Pathways Magazine](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/pathways-magazine?hsLang=en)
    - [Become a Partner](https://altedpathways.org/)
    - [Careers](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/about-us/careers/)
    - [Contact Us](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/contact-us/)
    - [Events](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/events/)
- [Login](https://studentinnovate.educationincites.com/#/client/myincite)
- Search

[Get Info](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/request-info?hsLang=en) [Enroll](http://accelerationacademies.org/enroll)

Menu

 Search

Close Search Form

Close Menu

Our Blog

## The Stories & Insights That Matter

Filter by category Student Stories Florida Alternative Education Meet Our Graduates Graduations South Carolina Charter Schools Miami-Dade Sarasota Going Back to High School Staff Perspectives 10 Years of Acceleration Academies Ector Personalized Learning Texas Georgia Academies News & Events Academies in Action Career and Technical Ed Gwinnett County (GA) St. Lucie Bethel (WA) Location Clark County (NV) GED vs Diploma High School Diploma CTE Data in Education Dropout Recovery Nevada value of a high school diploma Washington Alumni Broward County (FL) Duval County Escambia County Marion County Myrtle Beach/Conway (SC) Student Mental Health Lee County Online High School Santa Rosa County (FL) School Choice Technology California Cincinnati (Oh) DeKalb County (GA) Enrollment Help Hillsborough County (FL) Insider Los Angeles My Acceleration Academies Story National School Choice Week Ohio Partnerships Wichita, KS

[![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SAA-Nathan-Ricca-Featured.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/sarasota-grad-nathan-ricca-it-was-way-different)

Meet Our Graduates

## [Sarasota Grad Nathan Ricca: ‘It Was Way Different’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/sarasota-grad-nathan-ricca-it-was-way-different)

August 22, 2023 | Jeffrey Good

For Nathan Ricca, the road to finding the right high school was long and winding. He began in a traditional high school but felt overwhelmed by the crowded hallways and packed classrooms. He tried military school but didn’t thrive in the regimented learning environment.

[![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/EAA-Graduation-Featured.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/ector-graduation-you-gotta-keep-going-no-matter-what)

Graduations

## [Ector Graduation: ‘You Gotta Keep Going, No Matter What’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/ector-graduation-you-gotta-keep-going-no-matter-what)

August 18, 2023 | Jeffrey Good

Family, friends and educators gathered to celebrate the graduation of the latest group of grads from Acceleration Academies of Ector County. The day brought laughter, cheers and more than a few happy tears as young people claimed the diplomas they might once have thought out of reach.

[![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/SLAA-JaQuon-Madaris-Featured.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/slaas-jaquon-madaris-gifts-from-the-heart-and-hands)

Student Stories

## [SLAA’s Ja’Quon Madaris: Gifts from the Heart and Hands](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/slaas-jaquon-madaris-gifts-from-the-heart-and-hands)

August 14, 2023 | Jeffrey Good

If they could find a job at all, most 15-year-olds would use the cash to buy snacks, video games or tickets to a concert — or maybe save toward their first car.

[![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/GCAA-Hashima-Carothers-Featured.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/gcaa-director-hashima-carothers-why-not-be-the-best-possible-you)

Staff Perspectives

## [GCAA Director Hashima Carothers: ‘Why Not Be the Best Possible You?’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/gcaa-director-hashima-carothers-why-not-be-the-best-possible-you)

August 10, 2023 | Jeffrey Good

When many young learners arrive at Gwinnett County Acceleration Academies (GCAA), they find a school leader who knows their challenges first-hand.

[![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/LCAA-Graduation-FEATURED.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/do-not-give-up-lcaa-celebrates-first-group-of-graduates)

Meet Our Graduates

## [‘Do Not Give Up’ — LCAA Celebrates First Group of Graduates](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/do-not-give-up-lcaa-celebrates-first-group-of-graduates)

August 8, 2023 | Jeffrey Good

Lee County Acceleration Academies (LCAA) celebrated its first group of graduates recently, as young men and women who might have otherwise given up on high school received the diplomas they had worked so hard to earn.

[![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/MDAA-Roberto-Hilarion-and-Parents.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/roberto-hilarion-making-his-and-his-parents-dreams-come-true)

Meet Our Graduates

## [Roberto Hilarion: Making His – and his Parents’ — Dreams Come True](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/roberto-hilarion-making-his-and-his-parents-dreams-come-true)

August 4, 2023 | Jeffrey Good

When Roberto Hilarion and his sister were younger, their parents moved from Cuba to Miami in hopes of building a better life for their children.

[![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/What-Do-You-Learn-in-High-School-That-Prepares-You-For-the-Real-World-Featured.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/what-do-you-learn-in-high-school-that-prepares-you-for-the-real-world)

Going Back to High School

## [What Do You Learn in High School That Prepares You For the Real World?](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/what-do-you-learn-in-high-school-that-prepares-you-for-the-real-world)

July 31, 2023 | Admin

High school sometimes feels like non-stop assignments that have nothing to do with real life. You might be wondering how anything you learn in your classes could help you in your time after high school. Does high school matter?

[![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/WAA-Selena-Farlow-and-Jesus-Ortiz-Featured.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/young-parents-and-waa-grads-people-here-have-our-back)

Meet Our Graduates

## [Young Parents and WAA Grads: ‘People Here Have Our Back’](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/young-parents-and-waa-grads-people-here-have-our-back)

July 28, 2023 | Jeffrey Good

Selena Farlow and Jesus Ortiz didn’t plan on becoming parents as high school seniors. But once it became clear that they would, they needed a school where they could not only earn their diplomas but also take good care of their baby boy, Damian.

[![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/The-One-Decision-That-Could-Cost-You-500K.jpeg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/the-one-decision-that-could-cost-you-500000)

Alternative Education

## [The One Decision That Could Cost You $500,000](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/the-one-decision-that-could-cost-you-500000)

July 26, 2023 | Tracie Hummel

Now that we have your attention, we wanted to share a crucial life hack and little known secret. If you’re one of the million+ young adults who have already dropped out of high school this year or the countless others who are wondering if you should drop out of high school, this is for you. We...

[« Newer](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/page/15) [Older »](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/page/17)

## In the **News**

[View all news](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/news/)

---

[Prev](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/page/15) [14](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/page/14) [15](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/page/15) [16](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/page/16) [17](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/page/17) [18](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/page/18) [Next](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/page/17)

Refer a friend & [Earn Rewards](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/refer-a-friend?hsLang=en)

![Acceleration Academies](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/wp-content/themes/acceleration-academies/library/images/placeholder/aa-logo-footer.png)

[872.529.5115](tel:8725295115) Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm ET [info@accelerationacademies.org](mailto:info@accelerationacademies.org)

OwnYourSuccess

- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/accelerationacademies1)
- [TikTok](https://tiktok.com/@accelerationacademies)
- [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@accelerationacademies)
- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/accelerationacademies/)
- [LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/company/acceleration-academies)

![cognia logo](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/wp-content/themes/acceleration-academies/library/images/placeholder/cognia-logo.png)

©2026 Acceleration Academies. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/privacy-policy/) [Blog](https://www.accelerationacademies.org/blog/)