Georgia’s first virtual charter high school that aims to graduate at-risk students will close in June after six years of operation.
Graduation Achievement Charter High School announced the decision Monday after a March vote by its board of directors. Roughly 2,100 students attend the school, with 271 seniors eligible to graduate before it closes, according to Superintendent Monica Henson.
The school withdrew its application for a state charter renewal from the State Charter Schools Commission when it became clear that the commission's staff would not recommend it for renewal, Henson said.
The charter school had posted several years of poor performance based on state metrics, jeopardizing its state-authorized charter. School leaders have said it is difficult to meet state expectations because it serves a different population of students and accepts students regardless of academic or disciplinary history.
Graduation Achievement Charter also considered offering its services as a vendor to school districts that don’t have their own online programs, but determined that approach wasn’t feasible because of timing and funding needs, Henson said.
Graduation Achievement Charter offers online classes to students across the state and in-person instruction at locations in Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah.
The school will work with students who have not graduated to find new schools so they can obtain their diplomas, according to the school.
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