Information: www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/forsythacademy.
The advantages of completing high school have been well researched, yet there may still be times when other things get in the way of that accomplishment. A student may need to work, catch up on a failed course or concentrate on a goal that takes them outside of class. In Forsyth County, educators have devised an alternative way for students facing a variety of challenges to keep on track with the graduation goal through the Academies for Creative Education.
Based in a separate building behind the county’s school offices in Cumming, the ACE is comprised of three nontraditional tracks designed to accommodate individual needs and circumstances. Course work is online, allowing students to move ahead or review at their own pace, which in some cases, means graduating ahead of schedule.
“We focus on core curriculum taught in smaller classes with a certified teacher for assistance,” explained Co-Director Betty Pope. “We only have about 15 to 16 students per class and are getting more and more requests. We usually have a waiting list, and as soon as one student reaches graduation status, we pull another one in.”
The academy is limited to 240 students, but the steadily growing demand recently brought in more instructors to serve more students. There’s also more interest in the I Achieve virtual program that launched five years ago for middle and high schoolers who can attend on a full or part-time basis. I Achieve also accepts non-county residents for a fee. All of the course requirements are met online.
“We’ve had a number of students who were professional ballerinas, sports players, or whose families traveled internationally,” said schools spokesperson Jennifer Caracciolo. “We’ve also had students who came from other traditional schools but who wanted Forsyth County’s high standards, but with the flexibility that fit their personal schedules.”
Those students are often so involved in outside projects that they only come into the building a few times a year, said Pope. “Sometimes we only see them when we do state testing, or if they come for a special tutoring session or instruction.”
College-bound students who want to speed up their course work will also have a new option through ACE this year. For the first time, five Advanced Placement courses will be offered, and interest in taking them is “much more than we anticipated,” said Pope.
The third component of the ACE is the Gateway Academy that offers classes for about 140 middle and high school students who have been tribunaled out of their districted facility. Along with online learning and classroom instruction, Gateway students are held to a high standard for behavior and performance.
“The best thing about the Gateway program is that it’s set up especially for the student who struggles or doesn’t fit into the traditional school setting or who may be behind,” said Pope. “This gives them a way to continue and succeed.”
Attending ACE enabled Cumming resident Bo Kelentic to graduate in May and head for the University of North Georgia for the fall term.
“I failed a class and didn’t want to go to summer school, but I found that the academy could help me catch up,” he said. “I could work at my own pace, so I caught up and graduated on time. It really was one of the best decisions I’ve made. If you’re self sufficient and willing to work, it’s very rewarding.”
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