At Nexus Academy, student finds the atmosphere and pace that suits her needs

Rebecca Giles was about to enter into her freshman year and was a little worried about how she would do in high school. She had experienced difficulty at her previous school when she wasn’t understanding the material. It was also hard for her to get help from teachers as they were busy with other students. She then became frustrated as the class would move on in the subject matter and she would fall behind.

This summer she came across a mailer about a blended high school near downtown Cleveland called Nexus Academy. Right away her interest was peaked when she read the class sizes were smaller. Then she learned the students follow an online curriculum but also spend half their time in a classroom setting.

So Rebecca enrolled in Nexus Academy of Cleveland in August and is proud to say her grades have improved. She says it’s because she can work at her own pace and focus more of her time and attention on the subjects that previously caused her problems.

“I used to struggle with my English classes. From time to time I would need help understanding something but the teachers couldn’t stop to help me and the class would move forward and often leave me behind,” she said. “At Nexus, I like the opportunity to work in a classroom and online. The instructors are always available to work one-on-one or through email. I can also work at my own pace if I need — which eliminated a lot of the anxiety I used to feel.”

In addition to the pace, Rebecca says the environment at Nexus Academy is one that also works for her. She describes the school as being more open and inviting for students to work independently or in a group. “I like wide open spaces and Nexus Academy is set up much like a college student union where you can move around. I felt closed in at my previous school but feel much more at ease here,” she added.

Rebecca is very interested in music and art and enjoys playing baseball and football. Following high school graduation, the self-described animal lover plans to attend college and hopes to work in the animal rescue field.