Merced Times

In the rural California district of Le Grand High School, students have used an online learning program called Acellus that the superintendent believes has helped student performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We began using Acellus to help our students with credit recovery," Le Grand High School District Superintendent Donna Alley told the Merced Times. "When the pandemic hit, it was a seamless transition for our students to continue to receive quality core curriculum through the Acellus program." 

Alley said some teachers have been using the program during the pandemic.

"All teachers were trained last summer to use the program," Alley said. "Prior to the pandemic only a few staff members had been trained and using the program for our students in credit recovery."

The Merced Sun Star reported that the county high schools graduated 93.3% of its seniors last year, beating the state's overall rate of 90%. Local education officials say it was the highest graduation rate in recent history. The graduation rates countrywide included Delhi Unified (98.2%), Hilmar Unified (97.1%), Los Banos Unified (96.1%), Merced Union High (94.8%), Gustine Unified (94.2%), Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint (93.3%), and Le Grand Unified (92.5%), the Star reported.

Alley credited their high graduation rate to several developments, including the teachers and staff who prioritize students.

"I believe our success for our high school graduation rate is due to our teachers and staff building relationships with students and making students our priority," Alley said. "We are here to help all students achieve a diploma. We want students to realize the Le Grand Union High School District is a place to prepare students to move into the world of work or college. It is the student's choice with our guidance and help."

Alley said after the pandemic ends, the district will continue to use the Acellus program. 

"We will continue to use Acellus after the pandemic for our students who continue to need the credit recovery or the student who chooses to accelerate their learning," she said. "Acellus also allows for students to take a class the district may not offer due to its small size and rural location.

Acellus Academy provides online instruction through distance education via the Acellus Learning System. It is a program of the International Academy of Science, an online learning system that has been used to provide primary instruction to millions of students in thousands of schools throughout the United States, according to its website.