Kenny Bazile couldn’t stop grinning. As he and other members of the newly minted St. Lucie Acceleration Academies Class of 2021 strode across the stage to receive their high school diplomas, he knew that he had earned something huge. Kenny had cycled in and out of school, but it wasn’t just the...

When Jamese Williams arrived at Sarasota Acceleration Academies, the first person to welcome her was a fast-talking, deep-feeling guy from the Bronx, Frank Cruz. And he didn’t leave her side until Jamese had realized her dream of a high school diploma.

Each month, we take a moment to learn from the educational leaders who are bringing the Acceleration Academies mission to life, day in and day out, by asking them to answer a simple prompt. This month, we asked our Academy Directors, As graduation candidates return to campus after studying...

Growing up in North Las Vegas, Hashima Carothers didn’t have a lot of money. But she had a spark of talent — both intellectual and academic — and people who stood ready to fan it.

After Patrick Bell began high school, his parents didn’t encourage him to study hard. Instead, he says, they encouraged him to drop out. “They never really supported me in school. At a very young age, they wanted me drop out of school and support my 11 siblings.”

Some of our most dedicated graduation candidates are not only working hard for their high school diplomas, but also striving to be the best possible mothers to their children. In honor of Mother’s Day Week, we have been profiling some of them on our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Instagram...