CONNECTIONS ACADEMY ONLINE SCHOOLS CELEBRATE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION NATIONWIDE
Over 7,500 seniors embark on next learning journey: college, career, military and more
June 24, 2019 (Columbia, MD) – Connections Academy congratulates the class of 2019! High school seniors across the country who chose to attend fully online Connections Academy schools are graduating; joining the ranks of a growing number of online school alums. Connections Academy schools serve students in 28 states and this year over 7,500 graduates are expected to receive their high school diplomas at in-person graduation ceremonies, complete with caps and gowns, “Pomp and Circumstance” guest speakers, and proud friends and family.
“It is an especially proud time of year as so many of our graduates enrolled in online school because they needed a different approach to their education. They chose a different path -- one that met their specific needs, and that empowerment is to be celebrated along with their graduation,” commented Karen Haines, school leader for INSPIRE, the Idaho Connections Academy; one of 37 Connections Academy schools nationwide.
Post High School Plans:
Connections Academy schools are public schools; graduates have completed the same graduation requirements as their traditional school peers. Most Connections Academy graduates plan to go to college. From the over 7,500 graduates in 2019, 60% state they will go on to two or four year college, 23% plan to go to work, 8% will go to vocational school, 3% will join the military, while gap year, performing arts, etc., make up the rest. 2019 graduates have been accepted to top colleges including: UCLA, Ohio State University, Arizona State University, California Polytechnic State University, Purdue University, Sarah Lawrence College, Curtis Institute of Music, United States Air Force Academy, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Graduates Enrolled in Online School for a Host of Reasons:
Students choose online school for a variety of reasons. Results from Connections Academy’s 2019 Parent Satisfaction Survey reveal “flexibility” as the number one reason for enrollment, followed by the desire for a new school environment and a safe environment.
Nevada Connections Academy graduate, Devon Kisfalvi, said, “...I joined Connections Academy because regular school just wasn’t working for me. My parents figured out very early, I either got distracted really easily or finished fast and was bored and that kept me from moving forward at my own pace...Making the move from a brick and mortar school to an online school was a big change and in the beginning was tough, but here I was able to move at my own pace in a safe and distraction free environment.
”In her graduation speech, Minnesota Connections Academy graduate Katherine Paige shared a positive message of finding success, “...today is a victory. After all the time I spent worrying that I wasn’t going to be able to finish, all the times I had to start over or change my plans because nothing was working, and all the times I just felt like giving up and dropping out, I finally made it.
”Since 2001, Connections Academy has delivered quality public school education beyond the traditional classroom; using technology to connect students and their families to teachers, classmates, lessons, and extracurricular activities. Connections Academy public schools are tuition-free, accredited, and available in over half of the states in the U.S., while an online private school, International Connections Academy, serves students in all states and across the globe.
About Connections Academy
Connections Academy is a leading provider of high-quality virtual schooling for students in grades K through 12. Connections Academy delivers superior, personalized education for students, with the freedom and flexibility to experience the Connections Academy online learning community from anywhere. The combination of certified teachers, an award-winning curriculum, technology tools, and community experiences creates a supportive and successful online learning opportunity for families and children who want an individualized approach to education. Connections Academy-supported schools offer grades K through 12, though some public school programs do not offer all grades. For more information, call 1-800-382-6010 or visit www.ConnectionsAcademy.com. Connections Academy is part of the global learning company Pearson.