School of Choice Offers Virtual High School, Non-Traditional Hours and Hybrid Alternative Education Options for Students to Age 19 to Earn a High School Diploma

Avondale School District, an achievement-oriented learning community focused on student leadership and success in academics, the arts and athletics, announces an open house will be held for the District’s alternative high school, the Avondale Academy, on Monday, August 20, 9 am-2 pm. The Avondale Academy, a school of choice, will be located at 1435 West Auburn Road in Rochester Hills for the 2012-2013 school year. The building is owned by the District and previously served as the home of Meadows Upper Elementary, which the District closed in 2010.

34 students graduated from the Avondale Academy in June 2012, including four who obtained their degrees through the Avondale Academy Virtual School program.  While districts such as Rochester, Troy and Bloomfield Hills have alternative high school programs mainly for students who reside in their district, Avondale Academy is a school of choice. The only requirement is that students attending the Academy who live outside the Avondale School District boundaries provide their own transportation.

The Avondale Academy’s numerous alternative education options for pursuit of credit recovery and a high school diploma are available for students who have not turned age 20 prior to the first day of school on September 4 and include:

• Attendance at the Avondale Academy following a
  traditional school hours schedule
• Attendance at Avondale Academy’s afternoon schooling option, which runs 1 - 8 pm and is geared to students who have issues such as work or childcare that make traditional school schedules difficult
• Virtual High School, which provides students with on-line learning as well as teacher oversight and face to face visits one to two times per week to gauge progress. Additionally, because of Michigan’s high school graduation requirements, some classes, such as physical education and art, are taken at the Avondale Academy.
• Hybrid alternative options where students can combine use the Academy, on-line learning through the Virtual High School and the late day school option.

The incoming director of the Avondale Academy is Fred Cromie, who previously served as the principal of Avondale High School since 2002.

The Avondale Academy open house is scheduled for Monday, August 20, 9 am - 2 pm. For questions about the open house, the Academy or other alternative high school education options offered through the Avondale School District, please call (248) 537-6600.

Avondale School District is a collaborative community of teachers, staff and families working together to assure student success. The district, encompassing portions of Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Township, Troy and Rochester Hills, celebrates the richness of a diverse student population and strives to be a model school community that prepares students to be lifelong learners and contributing citizens to the world that awaits them upon graduation. Learn more about Avondale Schools, an AdvancED certified district, at www.avondale.k12.mi.us.