Acceleration Academies of Ector County (EAA) celebrated its latest class of graduates in a festive ceremony with parents, educators and the new leader of the nationwide network of non-traditional high school programs cheering them on.

Many young people move through high school with a bright sense of possibility. Evyn Wright, by contrast, struggled under a darkening cloud.

Makenna Wheeler had always been an eager, accomplished student. With a wry smile, she says, “I used to always raise my hand, every question — even if I didn’t know it.”

Kaylee Holt had always been a strong student, earning As and Bs and making steady progress toward her high school diploma and college education beyond. But then she began algebra and, suddenly, all those plans seemed in question.

Congratulations on being accepted to enroll at Acceleration Academies! You might be asking yourself “What happens next?”

Clark County Acceleration Academies (CCAA) began the new year with pomp and circumstance, celebrating the latest class of graduates — 142 young people who pushed through adversity to earn their high school diplomas and move ahead toward college, trade school, military service and well-paying jobs.

A group of graduation candidates and educators from Lowcountry Acceleration and Carolina Shores Acceleration Academies — two South Carolina public charter high schools — joined more than 1,000 other students, parents and teachers in celebrating National School Choice Week at the South Carolina...

On the cap she wore to celebrate her recent graduation from Miami-Dade Acceleration Academies (MDAA), Daniela Arbelaez emblazoned this message: “The pain you feel today is the strength you will feel tomorrow.”

We all know that obtaining a diploma is something to be proud of, but it can be easy to lose sight of just how much this achievement can impact your life. From professional advancement to personal satisfaction, it's not just a sheet of paper — it's a key that unlocks countless doors