What a difference the right school can make.

When Natalia Campos was 8, she lost her beloved abuela. She knew that her grandmother wanted to see Natalia and her other grandchildren earn their high school diplomas, so she made her grandmother a vow.

There was never a question in Christian Hernandez’s mind: He wanted to finish high school. There was, however, a host of challenges — especially the need for him to work until 1 p.m. each day at his family’s Guatemalan restaurant.

Test-taking anxiety is a common challenge for high school students. So much so that “about 20% of high school students and young adults experience high levels of test anxiety, and another 15% struggle with moderate test anxiety,” according to College Board.

An alarming rise in bullying and violence in high school has made it even harder for young people to focus on their studies and realize their dreams. Increasingly, students in search of a peaceful place to learn find their way to Acceleration Academies.

The recent commencement ceremony for Miami-Dade Acceleration Academies (MDAA) turned out to be very much a family affair.

Bryanna Olalde is a Carolina Shores Acceleration Academy OG, one of the first students to enroll at the academy when it opened in the fall of 2023.

Bethel Acceleration Academies celebrated its most recent class of graduates, young learners who pushed through adversity to write a new chapter for their adult lives.

Two years ago, Mako Velez had given up hope of earning a high school diploma and was prepared to settle for a GED. But one night when she and her family sat down for dinner, the phone rang.