Darlene Diaz DeLeon ramped up her class load last semester,
taking 11 courses to complete high school and go on to nursing
school.
DeLeon is one of six students to graduate from Colorado
Connections Academy, a virtual public school based in
Englewood.
She’s also one of 300 students nationwide to graduate as the
online academy’s first-ever graduating class.
The seniors enrolled in the national network of Connections
Academy virtual public schools celebrated their achievement during
in-person ceremonies from 12 academy schools in 11 states.
Colorado celebrated at Maggiano’s in Englewood, June 6.
“This group of very talented students demonstrates how much
young people can achieve if they are given the right tools and
support to fit their individual needs,” said Barbara Dreyer,
president of Connections Academy.
“We are so proud of them and very pleased that colleges and
university are recognizing their quality education.”
The school combines state-certified teachers with a
standards-aligned curriculum to create an individualized education
unique to each student.
Nationwide, 15 Connections Academy schools in 14 states serve
approximately 16,000 students in grades K-12.
Sixty-seven percent of Connections Academy graduates will
continue their education, and immediately enter four-year colleges
and universities or community colleges. Roughly 8 percent will
attend vocational or technical schools, or enter the military, and
25 percent will begin careers.
“The Connections Academy graduating class of ’09 represents a
highly diverse group of students,” a school official said.
“Students come from large families, single-parent households,
major cities and small towns, from southern Colorado and northern
Oregon.
“They have distinguished themselves academically in subjects
ranging from the fine arts to the sciences, and everything in
between.”
CA graduates have been accepted in more than 100 different
colleges and universities already, including the country’s most
prestigious higher education institutions such as Amherst College
and Williams College.
The school will host an information session at 6:30 p.m. June 22
at 8 Inverness Drive East, Suite 240, Englewood.
For more information, visit www.connectionsacademy.com
