The 61 students who are graduating from Opportunity Academy this year know first hand that the innovative program they just completed has changed the trajectory of their lives.
What they encountered at OA was different from their prior high school experiences—and it was thanks to those differences that they succeeded.
“OA offers a set of alternative high school pathways that allow students to continue or restart on a pathway to a diploma if they are not succeeding in a more traditional high school setting,” explained Principal Phelipe Johnson. “Our students can earn high school credits, prepare to pass the MCAS, and graduate with a Holyoke Public Schools diploma or state-granted diploma.”
Opportunity Academy serves approximately 200 high school age students who are off-track in their learning, who may be over-age and under-credit, or may have previously dropped out or are at high risk of dropping out. Even so, a high school diploma is still within their reach, Mr. Johnson said, and OA helps them earn it.
“We believe it is critical for our instructional and school culture practices to adapt to the student rather than the student adapting to the model,” Mr. Johnson explained. Each student’s story is unique. Their educational journeys don’t always look the same. What they needed to thrive as learners may not have been available to them in a more traditional high school setting. For a variety of reasons, they chose to enroll at OA where they encountered project-based learning supported by their classroom teachers and community experts who generously share their time to help them dig deeper into areas they want to know more about.
The result? A customized education that helps students succeed.
“OA is a school of choice,” Principal Johnson said, “and students and families always have a say in whether or not they enroll in one of our programs.” For the 61 students in Opportunity Academy’s Class of 2026, that choice has literally transformed their lives.