MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – California Connections Academy North Bay, a tuition-free online public school serving students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade, graduated more than 20 high school seniors at a June 17 commencement ceremony held at the Warren Atherton Auditorium at San Joaquin Delta Community College in Stockton.

Hundreds of family members, friends, teachers and administrators gathered to honor the students’ accomplishments, with remarks from Ripon Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Ziggy Robeson and student speaker Lily Eiselt.

California Connections Academy’s 2019 graduating seniors include Salutatorian Nathan Faber, who is graduating a year early and plans to attend Sacramento City College to achieve his associate degree in political science and economics, before he transfers to a four-year university and sets his sights on law school.

Additional 2019 graduates will go on to pursue higher education at institutions including Drake University, Cornell College, Carroll College, Pacific Union College and Walla Walla University, among others.

“Being a Connections Academy student stretched me academically and taught me how to adapt to a nontraditional classroom,” said Faber. "The diverse and competitive coursework allowed me to work ahead of my grade level, graduate a year early and focus on my next academic goals."

The online school serves a wide array of students throughout Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma and Yolo counties, providing an innovative and flexible learning environment for more than 200 students.

The combination of state-credentialed teachers and high-quality curriculum, which meets stringent state education standards, allows the school to provide a top-tier learning program for its students.

“The Class of 2019 is ambitious and inquisitive,” said Dr. Richard Savage, executive director of California Connections Academy Schools. “I’m overjoyed to be graduating this talented group of students and am thrilled to see what their future holds.”

For high school students, California Connections Academy offers a competitive, high-quality curriculum, including a variety of University of California "a-g" courses such as science, honors and (AP) classes, digital technology, visual and performing arts courses, and Career Technical Education courses.

National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society chapters are available for students, in addition to an AVID program to help students in grades 6-12 prepare for college and careers. Students can also pursue passion areas through a variety of clubs and activities including technology club, career club and more.

Students have many opportunities to participate in other school-sponsored events, including in-person field trips and special events planned throughout the year – from college tours to educational site visits – where they may socialize offline with staff and fellow students.

College-bound juniors and seniors may also adapt their schedules to accommodate exam preparation and applications.

Enrollment for California Connections Academy North Bay is currently open for the 2019-20 school year. To learn more about California Connections Academy visit the school’s Web site.