Traditional high school wasn’t what Lucas (pictured) needed. Now, he’s graduated from Grand Canyon Private Academy
When Lucas’ family began moving from Florida to New York, then to California and back again, his education took a hit. Traditional high schools struggled to keep up with the pace of his life – and worse, they underestimated his potential.
“Lucas was growing as an adult,” his father Juan shared, “and the regular high school system was unable to provide to Lucas all the tools that were required of him to excel as a student as well as a professional.”
Lucas began to fall behind, not for lack of motivation, but because the traditional high school education model didn’t support his learning style. “He wasn’t going forward in his learning abilities, he was actually going back,” Juan explained. It wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic forced classes online that the family saw how Lucas thrived in the virtual learning environment, and they knew something needed to change.
Finding the Right Fit Outside Traditional High School
“After digging and research, we found a program called Grand Canyon Private Academy,” Juan said, “We spoke with Ms. Bouchra, the principal, and told her, ‘Lucas is eager to learn. He has potential, but it’s never been fully supported.’” Ms. Bouchra saw something special in Lucas during his interview and enrolled him.
It didn’t take long for Lucas to thrive.
“I saw him with this big smile every time he opened the website,” Juan said. “We knew we made the right decision.”
At Grand Canyon Private Academy, Lucas wasn’t just a name on a roster, something that meant a lot to him and his family. “They always had time to speak with Lucas,” Juan said, “We always found that the school treated him like a person—not a number. That personal touch is what no other school had in our experience.”
Thriving Academically and Personally
With individualized support and teachers who believed in him, Lucas not only caught up, but went above and beyond with his education. “They accommodated the academics for Lucas,” said Juan. “They helped with tutoring, with motivation. They gave him the opportunity to excel.”
Lucas’ relationship with his English teacher, Ms. Hendrix, marked a major turning point. “The subject Lucas used to hate the most was English,” Juan recalled. “It was impossible for us to get him to read or write. But Ms. Hendrix… I don’t know what she did, but Lucas started loving English.”
He began reading independently, writing with confidence, and even mastering reading comprehension. “It was a complete 180 degrees,” Juan said. “We were amazed.”
Lucas agreed. “In GCPA, they moved me up. That’s how I like it.”
Math was no different. With support from Ms. Cynthia, his math teacher, Lucas finally got to explore the subject he loved. “He always wanted to do algebra,” Juan explained. “But in New York, they said Lucas wasn’t capable. At GCPA, they said the opposite—and moved him up.”
Ms. Cynthia believed in his “amazing powers,” a phrase Lucas took to heart.
A Student Learning Without Limits
Lucas’ education didn’t stop when the family hit the road again. “We traveled a lot,” said Juan. “In the car, he was doing his homework, listening to lectures. He brought his computer to every country.”
The flexibility of being an online learning student made it possible, but it was the GCPA community that kept Lucas engaged.
“He loved the virtual classes where he could see his classmates participating. That made him want to participate too. He’s very competitive,” Juan smiled.
Lucas especially thrived on GCPA’s IXL platform, where he competed in English and math daily. “He stayed in first place throughout the year,” Juan said proudly.
“They also value how much I like growing in English and Math,” Lucas said. “They always gave me positive feedback.”
A Student With a Future in Sight
Through GCPA, Lucas went from barely being able to read English to taking college-level courses – something unthinkable at his previous schools. He completed classes in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and even website design. “One of my goals is to become a website designer,” Lucas said.
His next step? “College. Then work,” he stated with quiet confidence.
At his former traditional high school, Lucas had been placed in a “non-diploma life skills” track as a student. But he proudly received his diploma with GCPA this past May.
“Without the guidance, direction, and faith of the staff at GCPA, we would not be talking about graduation,” Juan said. “Now, I have a graduated son. That is a success story.”
Advice from One Parent to Another
Juan understands that many parents fear their student will get overlooked in virtual school, “But I found the opposite,” he said, “It was more personal at GCPA than in real life. Teachers knew him by name. His classmates knew him by name. That says a lot about the school. They value the kids more than anything.”
Juan’s advice? “Look for a school where your kid feels happy. Make sure the school wants your child to be successful,” he said.
As for Lucas, he encourages other students to try online school if you want a new future and a new adventure.
To learn more about Grand Canyon Private Academy visit www.gcpa.k12.com
