60 Chicago Students Graduate from Youth Connection Charter School Virtual High School, Powered by K12: Chicago's First Online Dropout Recovery Program

Inaugural Graduation Highlights Powerful Partnership between K12, Charter School, Community College, and Chicago Public Schools to Reach At-Risk Youth

CHICAGO, June 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Friday, June 11, sixty students graduated from Chicago's first and only online high school dropout recovery program.  Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS) Virtual High School, powered by K12, provides online courses to Chicago students, ages 18-21, who dropped out of school and need 7 or fewer credits to graduate.  

The unique and innovative online learning recovery program for at-risk youth is a result of a partnership between Youth Connections Charter School, K12 Inc. (leading online education/course provider), Malcolm X College of Chicago, and Chicago Public Schools.  

Friday's graduation ceremony celebrated the first year of YCCS Virtual High School, powered by K12.  It was an extremely successful inaugural year with 92 percent of eligible students graduating from the program.  

The ceremony was an emotional culmination of achievement in the face of adversity.  Many of the graduates stated that without YCCS Virtual High School, powered by K12, they would not have gone back to school.  With diplomas in hand, the students are now continuing on to college and pursuing their careers.

"We are proud of each and every one of these graduates who overcame so much to earn their degree," stated Early King, Head of School for YCCS Virtual High School, powered by K12. "Creative educational approaches such as the partnership program we have established are critical to re-engage students who have dropped out of school. All of us at K12 and YCCS are delighted with the first year success of our program and thankful that we had the opportunity to serve these wonderful young people who now have the education they need to take the next step and pursue their dreams."

The graduation ceremony featured a keynote address delivered by Arthur Agee from the critically acclaimed Hoop Dreams documentary and Founder of the Arthur Agee Role Model Foundation.

Agee congratulated the graduates and said, "Today is a new day! No matter what mistakes you have made in the past, today is a new beginning to a world of opportunities."

YCCS Virtual High School, powered by K12, is an innovative program where students take online courses delivered by K12 and work with highly skilled teachers to complete the credits they need to receive a diploma.  Students attend a learning center located on the Malcolm X College of Chicago campus where students work on their online courses with instruction and support from teachers and staff.  Students can also access their courses/classes outside of the learning center to provide students with greater flexibility.  

Since 1997, Youth Connection Charter School (www.yccs.us) has offered academic choices to thousands of students who have dropped out of traditional high schools, but have a desire to learn. YCCS has a long history of serving one of the most vulnerable student populations in the City of Chicago with a rigorous orientation towards "authentic student learning."

K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN), a technology-based education company, is the nation's largest provider of proprietary curriculum and online education programs for students in kindergarten through high school.  K12 provides its innovative, award-winning curriculum and academic services to online public and private schools, traditional classrooms, blended school programs, and directly to families.  

K12 (www.K12.com) has provided over 1.5 million courses to more than 150,000 students worldwide, and has received numerous awards and honors for academic achievement and innovation. Over 95 percent of parents are satisfied with the K12 program and agree that their children have benefited academically with K12.  K12 is accredited through AdvancED, the world's largest education community.

K12's mission is to provide any child the curriculum and tools to maximize success in life, regardless of geographic, financial, or demographic circumstances. 

SOURCE K12 Inc.