REYNOLDSBURG — Virtual Community School of Ohio (VCS)’s Digital Academy business unit recently recognized Bob Wilds, Lawrence County Academy director, and his team with their 2015 Partnership Award.

Lawrence County Academy (LCA) is a partnership between VCS of Ohio and Lawrence County ESC, providing at-risk students in Lawrence County an opportunity to earn their high school credits through an online program, with local help from tutors familiar with both students and the curriculum.

Successful students are able to make up credits and graduate with a high school diploma from the Lawrence County Academy.

The academy has been in operation since September, 2013, and serves approximately 75 students per year in grades seventh through 12th grades. Students come from Chesapeake, Dawson-Bryant, Fairland, Ironton, Rock Hill, South Point and Symmes Valley School Districts. In addition to an award-winning curriculum by FuelEd, VCS provides enrollment, laptop deployment, maintenance and Help Desk services to support students, enabling LCA to focus on helping students succeed.

“We have a number of partnerships across the state,” shares Jennifer Sherman, VCS Director of Digital Academies and Part Time Courses; “but Bob and his team at LCA have developed one of the best models for helping students succeed and sharing their learning with us so that future districts can benefit.” To date, they have kept about 206 students from dropping out of school due to personal issues or needs which inhibited their success in a traditional school environment.

“Partnering with VCS has provided students in Lawrence County with an alternative pathway to graduation outside of the traditional school setting,” shares Wilds. “We look forward to a continued partnership with VCS.”

For more information on similar partnerships, visit vcslearn.org/DigitalAcademies or call 614-501-2041.