Extra help can get seniors across graduation finish line

Brianna Camann- Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL)- Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) Seniors are only about three months away from their final exams and graduation. Some Mustangs need to do some extra coursework to get ready.

Approximately 14% (83 seniors) of the class of ’24 is in Credit Recovery courses.
Credit Recovery courses are online courses at LRHS that Mustangs can take if they failed the class and did not earn the credit.

Some Seniors say that it is easy and helpful being in Credit Recovery.

Avery, a senior, said, “It’s helping me because I didn’t complete some of the classes I need to graduate and it’s really helpful if you actually put in the effort to do it.”

John said, “Credit recovery has helped me make a ton of new friends and it has helped me boost my Grade Point Average (GPA).”

Credit Recovery courses are assigned by the school counselors at LRHS.

LRHS credit recovery teacher Nicholas Savarese said “Our school counselors assigns a student who needs to catch up with their graduation requirements to a research period (instead of an elective) or summer school.

“Once in research students are assigned, they are enrolled in their needed courses on Edgenuity. Edgenuity is the county's online credit recovery platform. Courses are available to students 24/7 so there is ample opportunity to make up their missing credits,” he continued.

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LRHS anatomy and physiology honors teacher Kelly-Smith Williams assists Savarese and works with credit recovery seniors.

She said, “We have so many students who have graduated simply because we offer this program and Savarese has worked with them for so many years.

“I have worked with students who are now enrolled full time in State College of Florida (SCF), Manatee Technical College (MTC), and a variety of other smaller schools who may not have had the opportunity if it were not for credit recovery. It also has allowed a number of students to graduate in the summer at the ceremony in July,” she continued.

Smith-Williams added, “My personal belief is every single student at Lakewood Ranch High School deserves to have the opportunity to graduate high school. If they want to, we have more than enough people willing to help, make it happen. No matter what path they take it all leads to walking across that field in May which is my favorite part of working with credit recovery students.”

May 13 is the deadline for seniors to walk at graduation.