John Droubie, PrincipalInformation Regarding Intake Meeting
Graduation
Diploma - Riverside Academy does not issue a diploma for graduation but fulfills the graduation requirements of the diploma issuing district. Riverside Academy-High School students need to fulfill the credit requirements of the school district from which their diploma is being issued. Students must also meet any district specific and all state mandated graduation requirements identified from the resident / diploma district.
- An "Application for Graduation" and "Exit Letter" are required from all students completing graduation requirements at Riverside Academy Secondary Programs.
- Diplomas are available from the diploma issuing district, 3-weeks following the completion of graduation requirements. Contact diploma issuing district high school directly.
Graduation Ceremony - Riverside Academy Secondary has a Graduation Celebration for all students completing their requirements during the school year. It is scheduled outside any local district ceremony so everyone can participate.
Diploma Issuing District Ceremony: With permission from the district, students are invited to participate in the district Graduation Ceremony. It is the responsibility of the student to receive date information, practice schedules, ordering of requested items from the diploma issuing district. All districts require 100% of all graduation requirements completed and permission to participate in the Graduation Ceremony.
Models of Learning
Independent Study Model:
General Information - The Independent Study method requires student direct-instructional class time (attendance) and outside academic work completed (homework) to earn the required credit(s). A state requirement for direct-instructional time is 1 hour for every 4 hours of quality, standards-based, independent study homework completed. Homework completed and turned in may not be counted if there is insufficient direct-instructional time. It is the responsibility of the student to ask for Independent Study work.
Academic Requirements - Students not attending scheduled classes may be dropped from enrollment. Students will not be permitted to receive independent study (homework) unless they have attended class. There is no excused absence in the independent study model. If needed, please contact our office to drop enrollment. Student(s) will not be penalized in our program for dropping enrollment in the independent study model.
Credits will be accumulated in .33, .66 or 1 trimester credit portions. Twenty-three hours of quality completed work = .33 trimester credit or required hours set by resident high school. Total hours less then 23 may not be transferred between sessions/trimesters. Minnesota standard-based curriculum is used with student learning goals, targets and assessments required to earn credit(s).
Seat Based Model:
General Information - Students scheduling in a seat-based program will attend Monday - Friday. All students under 16 years old must attend a seat-based program. Flexible scheduling is an option with all students, however the graduation timeline will be altered by this choice. Classes will be taught by licensed teachers who respect the diverse ways in which students learn. All students are scheduled in an Advisory Class which supports students in scheduling, incentives, interventions, graduation timelines, annual goal setting, career & college planning and needed individual support resources.
Academic Requirements - Curriculum meets the requirements of the State of Minnesota with all the core standards-based learning goals taught by direct-instruction in a student centered challenging environment. Generally, all classes are scheduled with their credit aged peers. Credit requirements are based on the student resident district requirements to meet the requirement for a high school diploma.
