200 Las Vegas Students Who Might Not Otherwise Have Graduated Earned Their High School Diplomas This Year Thanks to a Unique Partnership

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – June 11, 2025 - Today, over 200 students from Clark County Acceleration Academies (CCAA) in Las Vegas walked across the stage to collect their high school diplomas thanks to an innovative partnership between Clark County School District and Acceleration Academies. The ceremony is especially meaningful for these students who previously struggled in traditional schools but found the academic and personal support they needed to earn their high school diplomas at Clark County Acceleration Academies.

The ceremony started at 11:00 a.m. and was held at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts Performing Arts Center. In addition to students with their families and other supporters, the Associate Superintendent of Clark County School District, and other local dignitaries attended.

Graduation commencement speaker, Courtney Mix Donaby, said during her speech that school had been a struggle for her before attending CCAA. “I went from traditional school, to private school, to homeschool and finally to Acceleration Academy,” she said. Ms. Donaby completed her coursework in three years and will continue her schooling to become a child therapist, attending the College of Southern Nevada in Fall and transfer to UNLV to earn a degree in counseling. She added, “The program model at Clark County Acceleration Academies has helped me to be more disciplined, to set goals, and about the importance of keeping a good attitude.”

“Graduation day is a time to celebrate and recognize individual achievements. Every one of our students deserves congratulations for reaching this point for they have persevered through health issues, family challenges, homelessness, poverty and other situations that could have ended any hope they had of graduating from high school,” said Priscilla Alonzo, Academy Director Clark County Acceleration Academies East. “On behalf of all the CCAA team, it has been our honor to work with these fine young people and guide them in their academic pursuits.”

Acceleration Academies is a free alternative pathway to a high school diploma that combines in person and online study with coaching and support for at-risk students. Most of the CCAA students were struggling in traditional schools and were unlikely to finish high school without extra support and flexibility the Acceleration Academy schools offers. 

Clark County Acceleration Academies operates four campuses in partnership with the Clark County School District. Like all public school programs, CCAA is free of charge for high school aged students who want to earn their diplomas. In addition to serving at-risk students, some students choose CCAA because they need the flexibility of a non-traditional school to accommodate family obligations, or their pursuit of athletics or music and other endeavors like Performing Arts. 

“It is always an honor to see these fine young adults walk across the stage to collect their diplomas, because they have persevered and succeeded despite long odds and hardship that could have prevented them from graduating from high school,” said Kelli Campbell, CEO of Acceleration Academies. ​ 

About Acceleration Academies
​Over 6,500 students are currently enrolled and on their path to a high school diploma through Acceleration Academies, which operates 20 academies in six states. Education Week recently featured the network in a special report on re-engaging students after the pandemic. Acceleration Academies provides a blend of in-person and remote coursework, individualized learning plans, flexible scheduling and career/life coaching to help students who may otherwise not be successful in earning their diploma. Find more information at accelerationacademies.org. 

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Media Contact: ​
​Alyssa Reynolds, for Acceleration Academies
​alyssa@pandopublicrelations.com ​
​916.430.0934

Note to media: Interviews with recent graduates can be arranged upon request. Additional photographs of the ceremony and the graduates will be added soon. If you wish to be notified when available or need anything immediately, please reach out to alyssa@pandopublicrelations.com.

Ivan Agyeman, a CCAA East student (left) and Priscilla Alonzo, Academy Director Clark County Acceleration Academies East (right). Ivan’s journey to graduation was full of challenges but he leaves CCAA as one of their most recognized students. He serves on the East Campus Student Leadership Group, speaking to incoming students at orientation, helping promote engagement with activities on site, and helping other students get comfortable with our program and connect with coaches. He's a testament to hard work and believing in the seemingly impossible. He hopes to become a police officer or work in law enforcement in Las Vegas to make our community a safer place. Photo courtesy of Acceleration Academies.