--- title: Blog - Acceleration Academies description: Stories and insights from Acceleration Acedmies --- [![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/CCAA-Ernesto.png)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/clark-county-student-celebrates-graduation-with-mom-by-his-side) Meet Our Graduates ## [Clark County Student Celebrates Graduation with Mom by His Side](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/clark-county-student-celebrates-graduation-with-mom-by-his-side) October 6, 2026 | Hali Schaefer Ernesto Hernandez’s Second Chance at Diploma Was a Lesson His Mother Knew All Too Well [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Built%20for%20More%20Graduate%20Impact%20Stories-2.png)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/i-didnt-think-i-would-graduate.-now-im-planning-for-a-career-in-nursing) Student Stories ## [I Didn’t Think I Would Graduate. Now I’m Planning for a Career in Nursing.](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/i-didnt-think-i-would-graduate.-now-im-planning-for-a-career-in-nursing) September 11, 2026 | Mimi, Ector County Acceleration Academies Graduate Before I enrolled at Ector County Acceleration Academies, I was skipping school almost every day. I wasn’t going to class, and graduating was becoming harder and harder. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/What%20Is%20an%20Alternative%20School_%2010%20Myths%20Its%20Time%20to%20Leave%20Behind.png)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/what-is-an-alternative-school-10-myths-its-time-to-leave-behind) Alternative Education ## [What is an Alternative School? 10 Myths It's Time to Leave Behind](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/what-is-an-alternative-school-10-myths-its-time-to-leave-behind) September 3, 2026 | Hali Schaefer When you hear the words alternative school, what comes to mind? [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Built%20for%20More%20Graduate%20Impact%20Stories.png)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/how-one-duval-county-graduate-found-her-confidence-again) Meet Our Graduates ## [How One Duval County Graduate Found Her Confidence Again](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/how-one-duval-county-graduate-found-her-confidence-again) August 3, 2026 | Hali Schaefer For years, Salajah believed she had hit a wall. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Hillsborough-Acceleration-Academies-5-Things-to-Know.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/5-things-to-know-about-hillsborough-acceleration-academies-in-tampa) Alternative Education ## [5 Things to Know About Hillsborough Acceleration Academies in Tampa](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/5-things-to-know-about-hillsborough-acceleration-academies-in-tampa) July 20, 2026 | Hali Schaefer If you're looking for an alternative high school in Tampa or wondering what options are available if traditional school hasn't been the right fit, there's good news. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Cincinnati-Opening-Soon.png)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/5-things-to-know-about-cincinnati-acceleration-academies) Alternative Education ## [5 Things to Know About Cincinnati Acceleration Academies](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/5-things-to-know-about-cincinnati-acceleration-academies) June 25, 2026 | Hali Schaefer A New Tuition-Free Community High School Is Opening in Cincinnati If traditional high school hasn't worked out the way you hoped, you're not alone. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Ella-Cashwell-Carolina-Shores-Student-Story.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/student-ella-cashwell-carolina-shores) Meet Our Graduates ## [At 16, Ella Cashwell is Already Leading the Way](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/student-ella-cashwell-carolina-shores) June 11, 2026 | Hali Schaefer Carolina Shores Acceleration Academy graduate balances works, college coursework, Eagle Scout achievements, leadership roles and community service while earning her high school diploma At just 16 years old, Ellanore "Ella" Cashwell has already built a resume that would be impressive for someone... [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/How-to-Catch-Up-on-Credits-Without-Feeling-Overwhelmed.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/how-to-catch-up-on-credits-without-feeling-overwhelmed) Alternative Education ## [How to Catch Up on Credits Without Feeling Overwhelmed](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/how-to-catch-up-on-credits-without-feeling-overwhelmed) May 28, 2026 | Hali Schaefer Falling behind in high school can feel heavy. [![](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/hubfs/Student-Story-Norah-Stearns.jpg)](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/from-the-ashes-how-graduation-candidate-norah-stearns-designed-the-new-acceleration-academies-mascot) Student Stories ## [From the Ashes: How Graduation Candidate Norah Stearns Designed the New Acceleration Academies Mascot](https://info.accelerationacademies.org/blog/from-the-ashes-how-graduation-candidate-norah-stearns-designed-the-new-acceleration-academies-mascot) May 22, 2026 | Hali Schaefer For Lee County Acceleration Academies graduation candidate Norah Stearns, art has never been just a hobby. 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