Avondale School District’s Avondale Academy Moves to New Rochester Hills Location for 2012-2013 School Year; Announces New Principal and Open House Dates

VirtualHigh School, Non-Traditional School Hours and Hybrid Alternative Education Options Maximize Potential for Students to Age 19 to Earn a High School Diploma

Avondale School District, an achievement-oriented learning community focused on student leadership and success in academics, the arts and athletics, announces the relocation of the Avondale Academy for the 2012-2013 school year to 1435 West Auburn Road in Rochester Hills. The building is owned by the District and previously served as the home of Meadows Upper Elementary, which the District closed in 2010.

“The current home of the Avondale Academy on the corner of Waukegan and Squirrel in Auburn Hills was built in 1929 and is in dire need of renovation,” explained Avondale Superintendent Dr. George Heitsch. “With the former Meadows building available for the 2012-2013 school year, the move is a logical one. We’ll determine in 2013 if it will be the permanent home for the Academy.”

34 students graduated from the Avondale Academy in June 2012, including four who obtained their degrees through the Avondale Academy Virtual School program. While districts such as Rochester, Troy and Bloomfield Hills have alternative high school programs mainly for students who reside in their district, Avondale Academy is a school of choice. The only requirement is that students attending the Academy who live outside the Avondale School District boundaries provide their own transportation.

The Avondale Academy’s numerous alternative education options for pursuit of credit recovery and a high school diploma are available for students who have not turned age 20 prior to the first day of school and include:

Attendance at the Avondale Academy following a traditional school hours schedule

Attendance at Avondale Academy’s afternoon schooling option, which runs from 2:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and is geared to students who have issues such as work or childcare that make traditional school schedules difficult

Virtual High School, which provides students with on-line learning as well as teacher oversight and face to face visits one to two times per week to gauge progress. Additionally, because of Michigan’s high school graduation requirements, some classes, such as physical education and art, are taken at the Avondale Academy.

Hybrid alternative options where students can combine use the Academy, on-line learning through the Virtual High School and the late day school option

The incoming principal/director of the Avondale Academy is Fred Cromie, currently the principal of Avondale High School, where he has served since 2002.

“Fred Cromie will be applying his strong organizational skills to a broad new role in the Central Office which includes special projects and curriculum projects in addition to leading alternative education,” said Dr. Heitsch. “Chuck Granger, who oversaw the development of students at the Academy as principal/director since 2005, will be returning to his first educational love, teaching, within the Avondale District this fall.”

The Avondale Academy has two open houses scheduled at its new Rochester Hills location: on Monday, June 25th from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Monday, August 20th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For questions about the open house, the Academy or other alternative high school education options offered through the Avondale School District, please call (248) 537-6600.

Avondale School District is a collaborative community of teachers, staff and families working together to assure student success. The district, encompassing portions of Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Township, Troy and Rochester Hills, celebrates the richness of a diverse student population and strives to be a model school community that prepares students to be lifelong learners and contributing citizens to the world that awaits them upon graduation. Learn more about Avondale Schools, an AdvancED certified district, at www.avondale.k12.mi.us.