TACOMA, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Insight School of Washington (ISWA), a statewide online public school, will celebrate the Class of 2018 with an in-person graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 16, at Bellevue College.
This spring, 399 students will graduate from ISWA, which provides students in grades 9-12 throughout the state with the opportunity to get back on track academically in a distraction-free environment. Each student receives an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP), which is informed by state-certified teachers who work with students to make sure the lesson plans are based on the student’s needs and the progress the student has made to date, as well as the student’s personal interests and college and career aspirations.
Additionally, ISWA offers a Social-Emotional Learning component called “The Seven Mindsets” through a homeroom advisory model tailored to provide students with the encouragement, strategies and confidence to become successful young adults. Moreover, the school provides opportunities for credit recovering, which enables students to concentrate on courses in a condensed schedule to help them get back on track and graduate from high school on time.
Five members of ISWA’s Class of 2018 have completed their Associate of Arts degree through the Running Start program offered by their local community college. Qualifying students have the opportunity to enroll in college courses tuition-free, earning credits toward both a high school and college degree.
Forty students will be graduating with honors for maintaining a 3.2 grade-point average or better throughout their high school career. Asya Wilson is valedictorian of ISWA’s Class of 2018, and Alex Lee is salutatorian. Wilson participated in the Running Start program and will earn her associate degree from South Puget Sound Community College later this summer. She plans to attend Central Washington University to study professional and creative writing. Lee, who finished his high school credits a term early and officially graduated in March, will attend Skagit Valley College to study welding and construction.
“Our students are proof that education is not a one-size-fits-all approach,” said Jeff Bush, head of school at Insight School of Washington. “We are so proud of all of the hard work and perseverance they put in to get to this day.”
Sandeep Thomas, a 2011 graduate of ISWA and a national advocate for school choice who works with American Federation for Children, will deliver the keynote address. Thomas struggled throughout his time in a brick-and-mortar school due to post-traumatic stress disorder caused by severe trauma in his childhood, but he thrived in the online environment and credits ISWA for helping him get to where he is today. 2018 graduate Krissa Kendall will also address her classmates.
Members of the Class of 2018 report that they have been accepted to a number of colleges and universities, including University of Washington, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Central Washington University, UCLA, University of Seattle, Eastern Washington University, Everett Community College, Renton Technical College and the Art Institute of Seattle. In addition, three students intend to enlist in the military.
ISWA’s students have built strong relationships with their classmates during their time with the school, as they interact with each other through their virtual classrooms. In addition, ISWA’s active, supportive school community organizes fun activities where students can get together in person. Graduation allows the students to celebrate their accomplishment together.
Students choose online school for a variety of reasons, including a safe learning environment, advanced learning options and the ability to support extracurricular pursuits or medical needs.
Media is welcome to attend this event. Details are as follows:
Insight School of Washington Graduation Ceremony
Saturday,
June 16, 2018 – 1 p.m.
Bellevue College Gymnasium (Building G)
3000
Landerholm Circle SE
Bellevue, WA 98007
About Insight School of Washington
Insight School of Washington (ISWA) is a full-time online public school program of the Quillayute Valley School District serving Washington students in grades 9-12. As a public school, ISWA is tuition-free, giving parents and families the choice to access the curriculum provided by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN), the nation’s leading provider of K-12 proprietary curriculum and online education programs. For more information about ISWA, visit http://wa.insightschools.net.
