The 2016 cohort is the largest graduating class for the three-year-old dropout recovery program.
June 30, 2016, Camden, New Jersey – Catapult Learning announced the graduation of 109 students from the Duval County Public Schools-approved Catapult Academy program in Jacksonville, Florida. The graduation ceremony was held on Monday, June 13, at the University of North Florida’s Adam W. Herbert University Center.
More than 600 family, friends, and community members attended the ceremony, which featured speaker representatives from each of the program’s seven Jacksonville campuses. All representatives addressed the theme of success, focusing on specific characteristics that included self-esteem, uplift, celebration, courage, education, strength, and support. Seven valedictorians (one from each campus) were honored at the event: Destiny Alamo, Dylan Bent, Shamonte Franklin, Carson Kline, Jacob McCann, Patrick Neeley, and Gage Reilly.
Owned and operated by Catapult Learning, Inc., Catapult Academy serves students ages 16−21 who have struggled to complete their high school education and need an alternative solution to graduate. The program provides a combination of small-group teacher-led instruction, virtual learning, flexible scheduling, college admission guidance, and career coaching. In Duval County, the program’s seven campuses enroll nearly 1,200 students.
“We applaud the amazing accomplishment of these young men and women,” said Andrew Post, Superintendent of Schools for Catapult Academy. “Earning a high school diploma is an achievement that opens doors of opportunity that had once seemed unattainable for many of our students. We are excited for the many successes that await them after graduation.”
Over the past two years, Catapult Academy has graduated 450 students; this year, the program is expected to award diplomas to more than 270 students in seven programs throughout Georgia and Florida. With the expansion of the program into Palm Beach County, Florida, beginning in the 2016−2017 school year, the company expects the number of graduates to continue to rise.
About Catapult Learning
Catapult Learning, Inc. has dedicated the past four decades to improving academic performance for all students, especially those at risk, including potential dropouts and those with learning and emotional disabilities. The company’s team of 5,600 educators works to achieve sustained academic gains and build teacher and leadership capacity through research-based programs that include intervention, alternative school education, special education, assessment, school improvement, and professional development solutions. Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, Catapult Learning partners with over 500 school districts, including 18 of the 20 largest districts in the United States.
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