Before Aleizha Keliikuli-Kuhia (they/them) and their family moved to Las Vegas from Hawaii in January, they lacked the motivation to show up for class, do homework and lay the groundwork for their future.

Each month, we take a moment to learn from the educational leaders who bring the Acceleration Academies mission to life, day in and day out. This month, we asked our academy leaders to respond to this prompt: What was a highlight of the last three months at your academy?Here is what they had to...

During the first semester of his senior year at a traditional high school, Ja’Kerien Sutton was on track to graduate with his class. But then an altercation with another student turned ugly and — just like that — Ja’Kerien’s dreams of graduating, going to college and playing football in front of...

Think back to when you were in high school. You were probably concerned with homework and friendships, or what you wanted to do after graduating. Maybe you were trying to balance a part-time job along with your studies.

When the Covid pandemic shut his public high school in 2020, Bryce Johnson didn’t spend the long months toiling away at home via a remote learning program. He got a full-time job as a construction worker and focused on supporting his family and establishing his adult life.

If you’re considering going back to high school, congrats! Earning a high school diploma is one way you can take a step towards a bright future.

For best friends Magalie Salas and Celeste Medina, high school had never been a comfortable fit. Volatile social dynamics, a need for more personal attention from teachers, and the isolation of the Covid pandemic created a miserable mix.

Most high schoolers work low-wage jobs or none at all. They make plans for building careers after getting their diplomas, often with help from college, trade school or military training. When they describe their adult selves, it’s in the future tense.

When Marrah Murray-Rodriguez arrived at Miami-Dade Acceleration Academies, she didn’t have a laptop computer. She didn’t have a cell phone. And she didn’t have many people in her life cheering her on.