Santa Rosa Acceleration Academies recently celebrated the opening of its new permanent location. Operating in partnership with Santa Rosa County District Schools, Acceleration Academies provides a flexible pathway to high school graduation for students struggling in the traditional classroom setting.
Acceleration Academies began operating in Santa Rosa County last year with 68 students on the campus of Locklin Technical College. Now the school has about 150 students and a new home near King Middle School on Stewart Street in Milton.
Inside, the classroom spaces feature bright blue walls and large glass picture windows for easy monitoring from the hallway. There are a variety of tables and desks for schoolwork, and the large space is divided into academic zones.
“So you’ve got the mathematics zone with Ms. Natalie,” said Chief Executive Officer Kelli Campbell during a brief tour. “The kids here are concentrating on their math courses and really work at one course at a time, so we can make sure they get through successfully.”
Across the hall is the science zone and further down, there’s a testing room and a lounge space.
Santa Rosa is one of ten school districts in Florida, including Escambia, that partner with the tuition-free high school program.
“It provides an innovative alternative pathway for students,” said Dr. Karen Barber, Superintendent of Schools in Santa Rosa County. “It may be that they got behind in credits; you know, sometimes life can get in the way, and there are barriers that students experience, and a traditional middle school/high school setting may not be the right fit for a student. We want to think about the student and what they need, have high expectations for them...but meet them where they are.”
When Santa Rosa was looking for a solution for students who needed alternative educational opportunities, Barber said they found that Acceleration Academies had a good track record and shared the district’s mission to prepare all students for graduation and a successful future.
“One of those keys to a bright future is getting that high school diploma,” Barber declared. “Acceleration Academy really focuses on the whole student, making sure that they have the supports that they need for good mental health, for building good character, but also for earning those credits that they need and passing those end-of-course exams to get that high school diploma.”
At the heart of Santa Rosa Acceleration Academies is their Re-engagement Program, which is designed to help at-risk students and high school dropouts return to school. They also have a middle school program for middle-schoolers as young as 12 years old.
“Those are students that either their middle school environment is not being successful for them, or they are over age and are not allowed to go back to their middle school environment to finish those 8th grade courses to be prepared for high school,” said Lauren Molier, academy director. “The second program would be our Bridge Program for students who’ve had some disciplinary issues in the county and have gone to a disciplinary hearing and have been assigned to come to Acceleration Academy for one calendar school year to catch up on their credits and get some social and emotional support.”
All students who attend Santa Rosa Acceleration Academies must be referred; the first step for parents seeking an alternative would be to speak to a guidance counselor.
Once enrolled, students experience a hybrid format, with both online classes and in-person support.
“Depending on the program that you have, that re-engaged friend — the high school students that want to come at will — they’re able to be more flexible and make their own schedule as long as they’re maintaining 25 hours of instruction throughout the week to be a full-time student,” Molier explained. “The Bridge and Middle school programs, they have to be here every day for three hours on site.
And, as the name suggests, the courses are accelerated, with students taking just one class at a time and expected to finish in three weeks for a half semester of credit.
According to Molier, the Santa Rosa program works and is already having some success.
“I just got, like, two or three weeks ago, just a picture, and it was one of my students that was a graduate, and she was like, ‘I’m on my way to school at PSC.’ And it was, like, super cute. She had her book bag.”
Another graduate is also attending Pensacola State College, with another working in a mechanic store and two enlisted in the military.
So far, Acceleration Academies has proven to be a great landing spot for 16-year-old Mahlaya.
“It’s going really good. I really do like my teacher, Miss Natalie,” Mahlaya said. “She’s a really good teacher, and she knows how to help allow you to learn and reach what you need to be reaching.”
Mahlaya is currently working her way through the Middle School program, after falling behind and being aged out.
“I was going through a personal little thing in my family that kind of caused me to mess around and kind of mess up my grades, so it kind of made me flunk a little bit. But coming to Acceleration is really good,” she stated. “I’m really happy that I get to experience this. It’s a really good school, and it really did help me get where I need to be.”
Given students’ choice to go back to a traditional school once caught up, Mahlaya said she likes Acceleration Academies and plans to stay in the program through her graduation.
"I feel like I can really do this, and I really just can't wait," she declared.
