Fort Myers Students Who Might Not Otherwise Have Graduated Earned Their High School Diplomas This Year Thanks to a Unique Partnership

FORT MYERS, Fla. – June 12, 2025 - Today, over 80 students of Lee County Acceleration Academies (LCAA) in Fort Myers walked across the stage to collect their high school diplomas thanks to an innovative partnership between The School District of Lee County 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 Lee County Acceleration Academies.

The ceremony commenced at 10:00 a.m. at Dunbar High School in Fort Myers. In addition to students with their families and other supporters, Jada Fleming, District 6 Vice Chair of Lee County School Board attended and addressed the students.

“Today we celebrate and recognize over 80 extraordinary students for reaching what might have felt like an impossible goal only a few years ago. These fine young people 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 Shelley Markgraf, LCAA Academy Director. “We will miss working with these students now that they have graduated, but want every one of them to know that we are here for them, to support them as they move forward to pursue the next steps in their academic and personal journeys.”

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 LCAA students were struggling in traditional schools and were unlikely to finish high school without extra support and flexibility the Acceleration Academy schools offers. Read about a recent LCAA graduate here.

Lee County Acceleration Academies operates in partnership with The School District of Lee County. Like all public school programs, LCAA 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 LCAA 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. 

“My personal congratulations goes to every one of the LCAA graduates today. It is very gratifying to know that as they walk across the stage to collect their diplomas today, they are setting out on their adult journey with a solid academic foundation. Many of these students have persevered despite what might have seemed impossible only a few years ago and here they are with high school diplomas with every opportunity ahead of them,” said Kelli Campbell, CEO of Acceleration Academies. ​ 

About Acceleration Academies
​Over 6,500 students are pursuing 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.

Breanna Rizo, LCAA student graduate. Photo courtesy of Acceleration AcademiesAaron Rabedeau & Mariana Caviedes, LCAA student graduate. Photo courtesy of Acceleration AcademiesMeylan Serrano, LCAA student graduate. Photo courtesy of Acceleration AcademiesEmily Pepe, LCAA student graduate. Photo courtesy of Acceleration AcademiesSean Williams, LCAA student graduate. Photo courtesy of Acceleration Academies