Accelerated Schools exists to provide a unique and alternative approach to learning. Our goal is to produce highly skilled students that have a positive attitude toward themselves.
Student Stories
Accelerated Schools makes a huge difference in the lives of our students. Many students who have graduated from Accelerated struggled in the public school system and need the individualized support that we offer. Below are just 3 of the many student stories that reflect the impact we have had on students in our community.
Brannon Ryan
Brannon had a long road to graduation. Before coming to Accelerated Schools he recalls being bullied constantly in public, making every day full of anxiety. Brannon recalled his experience arriving at Accelerated Schools in middle school as “being greeted with open arms” and that the students and staff acted differently than he was used to because they “accepted him for who he was without hesitation.” During his freshman year of high school he had felt he had built the confidence and strength to give public school another try, but ultimately became disengaged with school again. After a long absence from any school at all during his freshman year he returned to Accelerated for the rest of high school. He said it felt good to have “everyone working to make sure I made it through high school and had fun doing it.” Brannon is now living on his own and finding his way through life with thoughts of going to trade school. He says “I’m not sure I know what I want to do now, but my future has started to lay itself out and I am beyond grateful for having this school as the reason.”
Assane Diop
Assane was born in Dakar, Senegal. He attended two other schools in Denver before attending Accelerated Schools, but often felt the schools wanted him as a basketball player and not as a student. He was struggling with English and really wanted to learn the language, but did not feel like he was getting the support he needed. Assane came to Accelerated Schools in his junior year while also playing for a prep basketball team. Assane says, “Accelerated Schools was the right place for me to have my needs met, everyone here worked to get me prepared for college and really opened my mind.” As for Assane’s English, he was one of Accelerated School’s commencement speakers for the class of 2023’s graduation and felt both proud and prepared to speak in front of a crowd of people. Assane says that Colorado now “feels like my home” and that feeling is one of the reasons he is attending the University of Colorado, Boulder and was recently chosen as the student-athlete of the month.
Nikolai Grimsland
Nikolai is a legacy at Accelerated Schools. He has been attending with us since elementary school after facing many challenges at his home school. He has been such a success story moving from a student who never wanted to be in school to someone who has attended several school events as an alumni. He’s been an inspiration for many other students who attend with him along the way. Nikolai says; “ I want to thank all the teachers who got me to graduation, I wouldn’t have been able to get there without them. Nikolai was our second commencement speaker for the class of 2023 and had many past students and alumni return to see him speak and graduate. He also says “ I was at Accelerated Schools for a long time and I had so much fun every day. I am ready for the next part of my life, but I think of the teachers as my friends and I will miss them very much.” Nikolai is currently working, exploring community college, and participating in an adult transitions program with his home district.
2023 Graduating Class
2024 Graduates
An individualized learning sanctuary: We nurture students to be confident, contributing people with a positive relationship to the community.
Our Program
Accelerated Schools is an independent, co-educational day school for students in middle school and high school. Our positive atmosphere guides students that have not thrived in a traditional school setting to achieve social and academic skills. Our comprehensive learning environment supports the success of students with learning differences such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, OCD, depression, anxiety as well as gifted and talented students who need to be challenged.
Our Goal
Accelerated Schools exists to provide a unique, alternative, and rigorous approach to learning. Our goal is to produce highly skilled students that have a positive attitude toward themselves. We strive to give each student the tools to improve their overall academic skills, help them to have greater self-esteem, and be goal-oriented. We encourage and prepare them to be college-bound and have the confidence to move to the next level.
Our Vision
We have created a student-centered learning environment led by teachers who are adaptable lifelong learners since 1974. We understand that all students have a set of necessary skills to learn for their future, as well as unique needs and goals to accomplish. We tailor our program to each student in order to address both sides of this educational paradigm. With an average class size of nine students, each student is enrolled with an individualized success plan based on their needs, interests, and remaining graduation requirements. Our students receive no failing grades; if students are below grade level in any given subject, the teacher emphasizes the curriculum in that skill until they meet the mastery requirements for that subject. At Accelerated Schools, we offer high school and middle school classes with open enrollment; any student may begin classes any day, year-round. If you find that your child has been unsuccessful in the current school, we are able to help.
Organization name
Accelerated Schools
other names
AS, Family Services Foundation
1974
Tax id (EIN)
84-0680957
Category
Education
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
2160 S. Cook StMailing
2160 S. CookDenver County, CO, US