At-risk students on the brink of making an ill-fated decision to drop out need incentives to stay engaged and remain in school. The Acceleration Academy in Orlando, Florida, provides the necessary incentives through what Dr. Elvis Epps, principal, terms “low-hanging fruit.”
The Acceleration Academy is geared toward overage eighth- and ninth-grade students who’ve been held back at least once during their school career. During their year at the academy, students can earn enough credits to advance up to two years academically, getting some students back with their peer group.
The low-hanging fruit, according to Dr. Epps, is the academic success students experience early in the program. When they discover they’re capable of succeeding academically, they begin to strive for the fruit that’s higher up the tree in the form of more-challenging content and curriculum.
“There’s all the fruit up near the top that they can see and strive for,” Dr. Epps says.
The Orange County Public Schools program recently celebrated its one-year dedication, and Dr. Epps says he witnesses every day students making strides toward their academic and career goals. Administrators, faculty, staff, and parents are all integral players in student success. The school has a three-pronged overarching goal: decrease the number of dropouts, increase graduation rates, and increase student interest in post-secondary education.
“There’s something for everyone,” Dr. Epps said. “We’re getting there. We’re not there yet.”
Acceleration Academy has a limited enrollment, and approximately 300 students are on the waiting list to get in. Learn more about
Acceleration Academy. Learn about the
Star Academy Program, which serves as the academic foundation for the Acceleration Academy.
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