Key Points:
• Acceleration Academies’ new Tucker location offers educational opportunities for students seeking a nontraditional path to high school.
• The academy can accommodate 300 students, and includes a baby room for students who have children.
Tucker is now home to a high school geared towards students in need of a nontraditional pathway toward graduation.
DeKalb County Acceleration Academies opened on Lakeside Parkway in late September. The school was previously housed on a temporary basis at McNair High School in Atlanta. Expected to serve as many as 300 students, Acceleration will support students who benefit from a more flexible, personalized format than a traditional high school, according to Sarah Campbell, vice president of enrollment marketing.
Thanks to the partnership between DeKalb County School District and Acceleration Academies, which host schools in Florida, South Carolina, Nevada, and Texas, students who have previously struggled or dropped out of high school have an alternative route to earn their high school diploma.
“A key part of this strategic partnership is ensuring that students don’t fall through the cracks,” Campbell told Rough Draft Atlanta. “Our primary goal is to ensure every student has the opportunity to earn their high school diploma, no matter what challenges they’ve faced. Staff are focused on building strong, supportive relationships, providing flexible scheduling, and meeting each student where they are academically and personally.”
Acceleration’s opening at its permanent location came just days before a positive report from DCSD about its graduation rate. In a report released Sept. 29, the school district announced a graduation rate of 81.4 percent for 2025, a 2.7 percent increase from 2024.
According to a DCSD press release, it also marks the highest graduation rate in a decade. At a press conference held at Lithonia High School, Superintendent Devon Horton and Georgia State Superintendent Richard Woods celebrated the improvement.
“DCSD students are achieving at historic levels, and we are just getting started. Looking at a two-year view, our graduation rate has increased 5.6 points since 2023, placing our district in the 84th percentile statewide,” Horton said at a press conference about the graduation rates.
For students at Acceleration, the goal is not only graduation but also gaining the skills, confidence, and career or college readiness needed to thrive beyond high school, Campbell said.
To assist with that goal, Acceleration offers support to students who are also parents. Acceleration’s baby room includes books, toys and age-appropriate seating for children so their parents can focus on their coursework. It removes another barrier for students striving to succeed in parenthood and education.
“We’re honored to serve the DeKalb County school district community as a district partner,” Campbell said. “We believe every student has a story, and our team is here to make sure those stories end with success and opportunity towards a high school diploma.”
