What if you could give your student a true superpower—one��that’s��in explosive demand and pays double the average national salary?����

It’s��coding. Right now, there are 1.4 million unfilled tech jobs across the United States. This is��largely because there simply��aren’t��enough qualified coders. On average, coding careers��pay 50-100% more than the national median income. Experts are now calling coding a new form of literacy, as essential as reading or math.��

The earlier students start, the better.����

• Girls exposed to coding in elementary school are twice as likely to show interest in computer science by 8th grade ().
• Students with elementary coding experience are 5.2 times more likely to take AP Computer Science in high school ().��
• Elementary students who receive coding instruction score about 12 points higher in math and 9 points higher in reading on average ().

Yet 79% of U.S. elementary schools offer no coding instruction at all, and 40% of high schools��don’t��teach it either.��That’s��a massive gap��and a huge opportunity.��

Acellus��Answers the Call with a Full Coding Pathway ��

51����’s online high school offers the STEM-10 Coding Pathway. A complete, progressive program available to all students at no additional cost. It begins as early as 3rd grade and builds real coding and computational thinking skills step by step through three dedicated courses.

• STEM-1: Introduction to Coding: Students start with the fundamentals by programming the friendly Cellus Bot, a robot equipped with lights, motors, and sensors. Using an intuitive block-based interface (drag-and-drop interlocking blocks), they create programs that make the robot move, light up, and respond — turning abstract concepts into hands-on fun while learning logic, sequencing, and basic functions.
• STEM-2: JavaScript: Students advance to real text-based coding with JavaScript and program the impressive AC-D2 dancing robot. They give it personality and complex movements, seeing their code come to life in exciting ways.
• STEM-3: Electronics & Coding: Building on JavaScript skills; students explore electronics fundamentals (voltage, current, resistance, and capacitance) and learn to integrate hardware and software for more advanced real-world projects.

The pathway uses a block-based coding interface at the beginning, so students can focus on logic, loops, functions, and problem-solving without getting stuck memorizing syntax. This dramatically lowers the barrier and creates a smooth transition to full text-based coding later.

Physical robots are optional — every course includes a built-in on-screen simulator, so every student can participate fully regardless of hardware.

This structured, multi-year approach gives students clear progression from elementary through high school, developing practical skills that open doors in today’s tech-driven world.

One 51���� student completed all three courses in this pathway, applied to the for computer science, and was accepted as a freshman. On his placement exam, he scored so high that the university placed him directly into upper-division coding courses—skipping the introductory level entirely.��That’s��the power of starting early and building real skills.

What if one decision in high school could dramatically increase your chances of acceptance at 85% of universities—and set you up for groundbreaking work at NASA?��

It is not a secret admissions hack.��It’s��simply taking honors and AP-level courses. These rigorous classes��demonstrate��to colleges that��you’re��ready for college-level work, and more importantly, they equip you with the tools (especially math and science��courses) to tackle��real challenges��later.��

A perfect example is Anastasia, who��started her online high school journey��at������������ܲ�����������𳾲���as a��9th grader four and a half years ago with a clear dream to become an aerospace engineer.��She chose the math and science AP courses to give her��a strong foundation��to achieve��her dream.��

She went on to complete all four years at������������ܲ�����������𳾲�,��graduated, and was accepted to��,��which is the top university in the nation for aviation and aerospace engineering.��She even earned��the��Presidential Scholarship.��

As a college��freshman, Anastasia scored so highly on placement exams that she had the opportunity to be selected for a prestigious NASA research project.��On this project, she was a part of a��team that was to develop a cost-effective, rapidly deployable way to detect tornadoes in areas that lack��radar��coverage to detect them.��A place like Pennsylvania��is��a prime example that��doesn’t��have the coverage that it would need.��

Each team member proposed their own concept of the project. Anastasia’s idea stood out so strongly that the group unanimously chose it: build hydrogen-powered drones��equipped with high-resolution sensors that fly directly into supercells to collect real-time data, enabling��accurate��tornado predictions even without ground radar networks.��

The team has moved on from initial designs to developing a prototype. Anastasia’s concept could save lives one day—and it all traces back to having a dream, setting goals, and taking rigorous math and science AP courses.��

Why AP & Honors Matter to Colleges

Successful completion of AP courses at������������ܲ�����������𳾲� allows students to register for the AP examination at a local testing center, which may result in college credit recommendations by the College Board. This not only gives students a head��start��on college but also strengthens their applications by showing a commitment to academic excellence and readiness for university-level demands.��

����������ܲ�����������𳾲� offers 18 College Board audited and approved Advanced Placement (AP) courses. These courses��provide��high school��students with��the opportunity to engage in college-level coursework and potentially earn college credit. Completion of an AP course��demonstrates��to colleges that students are thoroughly prepared for the challenges of rigorous college academics.��

The Tier-1 Honors Program further supports this path with an honors graduation pathway (recommended for students aiming at competitive four-year universities), including honors designations on transcripts that highlight advanced effort and rigor.��

Want to learn more?��Explore our AP and honors courses at��/honors/��and see how they can help your��student��stand out.��

At just 11 years old, Kelcie Russell��achieved��something many adult filmmakers only dream about. She independently wrote, illustrated, animated, directed, and voiced her short��film��Oaklyn’s Friends, transforming a personal creative project into an award-winning production recognized on the festival circuit. The film earned official selections at the����(screened in Birmingham, Alabama),��,��, and��, along with several��additional��festivals.��

Its strongest showing came at the , where it earned Best Animation, Best Acting, Best Writing, and Best Overall Film. The project also received the Rising Star award at Austin Under The Stars, the Luminary Award at Austin Spotlight, and an honorable mention from ��in the animated narrative short category.��

In early 2026, Kelcie appeared on��, where she spoke about her creative process and the message behind her film. While many children her age are still discovering their interests, Kelcie is already producing animated stories and encouraging others to see their differences as strengths. At the center of her success is������������ܲ�����������𳾲�’s flexible, self-paced learning model, which allows her to��maintain��straight-A grades while actively pursuing a growing creative career.��

Who is Kelcie Russell? ��

Kelcie Russell’s creative instincts surfaced early. By age two, she was drawing with noticeable detail and intention. At seven, she stepped into acting, and by four, she was already��participating��in community fundraisers. Those early fundraising experiences did more than support��good causes—they helped her build confidence, strengthen her public speaking skills, and learn how to push past her comfort zone.��

Now 11, Kelcie balances a wide range of pursuits: professional��actress, self-taught animator, illustrator, writer, artist, model, and dedicated student at������������ܲ�����������𳾲�. Her acting work includes commercials, music videos, web series, independent short films, and print modeling. Each opportunity has strengthened her understanding of storytelling and performance across different formats.��

Kelcie often reflects on how those early community experiences shaped her mindset. Learning to try new things and stand in front of an audience gave her the courage to tackle larger projects independently. That mindset led her to write and illustrate her own children’s book and later adapt it into a fully animated short film.��

With������������ܲ�����������𳾲�’s personalized structure, she��can��move through coursework on her own schedule while��maintaining��strong academic performance. The flexibility allows her to invest serious time into creative development without sacrificing her education—an approach that supports both discipline and imagination.��

The Birth of Oaklyn’s Friends

Oaklyn’s Friends��began as a self-published children’s book Kelcie wrote and illustrated around age 9. She handled every detail—story, characters, illustrations, layout, and publishing—turning her vision of inclusion into a tangible work.��

Inspired to reach more kids, she self-taught animation and adapted the book into a 3-minute short film. She scripted, storyboarded, animated, designed backgrounds, edited sound, and voiced Oaklyn and Victoria herself.��The message��remains��clear: differences are superpowers; when people collaborate, anything is possible.��

Balancing Schooling and Creative Pursuits����

Kelcie incorporates 51����’s accredited, online school into her routine. This approach enables her to arrange her studies to accommodate filming schedules, acting obligations, and animation endeavors, while pursuing a demanding academic program.

She��maintains��straight-A grades without sacrificing creative growth. The flexibility of the program allows her to advance through lessons when her schedule permits and��pauses��when production demands increase. As Kelcie explains, “Due to the flexibility of the program, I’m able to have days on set and come home to finish the rest of my schoolwork.”��

This balance��eliminates��the need to choose between education and opportunity. Instead, the model supports both—allowing motivated students to pursue ambitious goals while staying academically on track.��

Looking Ahead: Kelcie’s Future Plans ��

Kelcie plans to continue creating films, exploring new animation styles, and��writing��additional��stories. She is also updating the��Oaklyn’s Friends eBook to reflect her evolving artistic style, with hopes of reaching more readers worldwide. Her long-term vision includes expanding her storytelling across multiple platforms while continuing to promote messages of inclusion, teamwork, and self-acceptance.��

“If we all work together, we can accomplish anything.” – Kelcie Russell

Do you have a story to share about your student’s use of 51����? We want to hear from you! For a chance to be featured in a student spotlight, submit your student’s experience here:�� /spotlight/��

Supporting your student-athlete as they navigate their online high school experience is crucial for their future, including acceptance into college, the opportunity to play college sports, and even the potential to go pro. In this article, we’ll explore tips and factors to consider for preparing for college athletics, along with resources that can aid your student-athlete throughout their online high school journey.

Why Student-Athletes Choose Online High School

Many student-athletes opt for online high schools that offer a self-paced learning model, which allows for flexibility in managing training and competition schedules. This arrangement enables students to take necessary time off for competitions without falling behind in their studies, reducing the stress often experienced in traditional classrooms

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Building a Strong Foundation for College

Online high school can help students develop time management and self-discipline skills that are vital for success in college. For those aspiring to play sports at the collegiate level, it’s important to enroll in an accredited online high school with courses recognized by the NCAA.

The Role of the NCAA in College Sports

The oversees collegiate athletics in the U.S. and Canada. It establishes the rules for college sports competitions, organizes athletic programs, publishes information about players, games, and seasons, and supports student athletes. Understanding the NCAA’s framework can help you navigate the path to college sports more effectively.

NCAA Academic Eligibility Requirements

Student-athletes planning to compete in NCAA Division I or II sports must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Division III schools are exempt from this requirement. This center certifies the eligibility of prospective college athletes in their pursuit of playing sports at the collegiate level.��

To play sports at an NCAA Division I or Division II college, students must:

• Complete the required number of high school core courses
• Achieve the minimum GPA in these courses
• Obtain a minimum score on the SAT/ACT
• Graduate from an accredited high school

It’s essential that the online high school you choose offers NCAA-approved core courses. This can position your student for success when applying to colleges where they can continue their athletic careers.

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Verifying NCAA Core Courses

Academic performance and relevant coursework are crucial for NCAA eligibility. Too often, students fail to qualify to play NCAA sports due to a lack of relevant coursework. We recommend that parents review the resources available from the NCAA to ensure their students are enrolled in the right high school courses. Approved courses are listed in a publicly accessible database maintained by the , allowing parents to verify compliance.

51����’s core�� courses have been reviewed and approved by the NCAA. By choosing our accredited online school, parents can position their students for success in gaining acceptance to top colleges and universities where they can play competitive sports.��

Features of 51���� for Student Athletes��

At 51����, our enrollment process enables students to enroll year-round. With the freedom to take courses at their own pace, students can work towards earning an official high school diploma while pursuing their athletic goals. Some of our noteworthy attributes include:

• NCAA Approved Courses: This allows student athletes to become eligible to play sports at Division I & II colleges.
• College Board Approved Courses: We offer College Board audited and approved Advanced Placement (AP) courses. These courses provide high school students the opportunity to engage in college-level coursework and potentially earn college credit.
• Flexibility: Ability to study with a flexible schedule for training and competitions.��

Success Stories: Case Studies from 51����

Many students at 51���� are managing both their education and successful athletic careers, taking advantage of the flexible online high school experience that helps prepare them for college and their future as athletes. Read about their experiences below.

Edouard Beland

After receiving offers to join teams across several countries, Edouard chose to play in Sweden, where he excels as a goaltender at the U18 junior level. Edouard’s ultimate goal is to fulfill his dream of playing in the NHL.

Today’s school system doesn’t give a lot of leniency for students who don’t grasp a concept the first time that it is introduced. As the rest of the students move on, a student who doesn’t yet understand the material is left further and further behind. For students who have fallen behind in or failed a class,��credit recovery��provides an opportunity to have a second chance.

Credit recovery is a strategy that allows students to redo coursework or retake a course through an alternative means. This strategy allows students to avoid failing the course and still earn academic credit.

How Does Credit Recovery Work?

When a student fails a course that they need to graduate, they must either retake the class or find a way to make up it up. Credit recovery programs provide an alternative way to regain credit for courses that were previously failed. In essence, credit recovery is a fancy term for retaking a course. These courses are considered equivalent to the previously failed courses.

At some schools, credit recovery must be completed through that school. These courses are often only offered in the summer. However, other schools might allow outside credit recovery courses to transfer to the students’ transcripts.

No matter how they go about it, students who participate in credit recovery courses are less likely to drop out of school.

How Does Credit Recovery Prevent Students from Dropping Out?

For students who fail classes that they need to graduate, dropping out when they become old enough can seem like an enticing option. Unfortunately, students who drop out of high school are more likely to become unemployed than those who finish high school. And when you consider that����in 2017, it becomes clear that there needs to be a system in place to help these students get back on the path to graduation.

Credit recovery courses allow students to make up the previously failed course credit, often with additional support. This helps students who may otherwise give up on their academic success the option to give it one more try.

For students who have failed more than one course, it can seem like a challenge to make up these credits, but if your school allows online credit recovery, you have the ability to complete the coursework in the time that you need.

Credit Recovery at 51����

51���� courses can be taken for credit recovery by any student who didn’t pass the course the first time—this goes for Acellus students and students in public and private schools. Our credit recovery courses are self-paced, which allows students to complete the coursework in the evening, on the weekends, or during summer.

The self-paced nature of our classes helps to prevent students from falling behind. Students have the flexibility to take an 51���� course while also pursuing a full course load��from their home high school. We also use a special technology that allows us to detect when students are struggling with a concept and provide extra instruction and help videos before moving on to the next topic.

After a student completes one of our courses, the parent may request that the course transcript be sent to the student’s school of record. The transcript provides documentation to the receiving school of the credit earned and the grade.

Credit recovery courses through��51���� are fully accredited��by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

If you are looking for a way to recover credits and stay on track for graduation, check out our��credit recovery program.

Making decisions regarding your child’s education can be difficult because, like every parent, you want the best for your child. The list of schooling options can be overwhelming. You could choose public school, which is, of course, the most common option. However, you may determine that an alternative would be better for your child. Private school, home school, and online school are all choices that may allow your child to receive more resources and personalized help than traditional public school.

The students of 51���� have come to us for a long list of reasons. Whatever reason you are considering an online schooling option for your child, we want you to feel confident in your decision when enrolling your child in 51����.

What Parents Should Know About Online School

Not all online school programs are created equal; however, they all include online courses that students can take anywhere they have access to the Internet. 51���� is an accredited online school, offering courses to students in kindergarten through high school. Our courses have interactive video lessons created by some of America’s greatest teachers. These videos are designed to give each student a unique experience based on their individual needs.

Some online schools have deadlines for when students must complete each lesson and assignment. Certain students succeed with strict due dates. On the other hand, 51����’s online school is self-paced, which gives students flexibility to finish their course work in a time-frame that is best for them.

Why Are You Considering Online School for Your Child?

The first question any parent should ask themselves is, “Why do I think online school might be a good fit for my child?” We have seen students from all types of backgrounds be successful in our program. However, there are six types of students that have greatly benefited from 51���� in the past.

1.�� ��Bullying and safety

Parents have turned to online school as a safer option for their students who have experienced bullying in their public schools. Bullying often affects a child’s mental health and stress levels, especially around school. By transitioning to a more positive learning environment, students will perform better because their focus can remain on learning rather than avoiding bullies. Since we are an online school, our students can attend classes from the safety of their own homes.

2.�� ��Struggling students

Every student learns differently, but unfortunately, in a traditional classroom setting, instruction is usually the same for everyone with little time set aside for individual help. This structure causes some students to struggle with one or more subjects. 51���� uses Prism Diagnostics^®, which is designed to cater to the individual learning needs of students. We have had students come to us after struggling with concepts for years, and within a few months, have seen improvements in their grades.

3.�� ��Student athletes and performers

All 51���� courses are self-paced, which means it offers students the flexibility to do course work when it works for them. This is particularly beneficial for student athletes or performers who can spend 30 or more hours a week training for a sport or practicing for an audition. 51���� allows these students to pursue their talents and passions while still earning a high school diploma.

4.�� ��Students with chronic illnesses

Parents with sick children already have a lot to worry about, and their student falling behind in school should not be one more thing to add to that list. Many children with severe medical problems miss too many days of school to keep up with classwork. Since 51����’s online school is self-paced, students do not have to worry about making up work because they are not feeling well. Instead, they can focus on their health and attend classes when they are feeling their best.

5.�� ��Military families

Military families move around a lot, often staying in one place no more than two years. Accredited online schools allow kindergarten through high school students to stay in the same program wherever they are living rather than transferring between schools with every move. Our online school also allows students whose parents are stationed abroad to earn a high school diploma after studying U.S. curriculum.

What Are Your Child’s Unique Needs?

Although these are common reasons parents choose online school for their child, every student is different, so their parent’s reason for considering online school usually is, too. Before deciding on the best path for your student, you must consider their unique needs. For example, do they learn best with individual help, or do they thrive in a classroom setting? Many students are very successful in the traditional public-school setting. Other students are independent leaners and want the flexibility of self-paced courses, so they have more time to pursue other hobbies.

Here is a list of questions to ask yourself to help guide your decision on whether online school is right for your child:

– How does my child learn best?

– What is the best learning environment for my child?

– What type of schedule do I think is best for my child: structured or flexible?

– Are there aspects of my child’s life that can be improved by enrolling in online school?

You may believe that your children could thrive in both public and online school. However, a few other perks of online school include closer relationships with family, more rest and hours of sleep, increased productivity, and better emotional and physical health.

51���� is dedicated to providing the best online learning experience for our students. If you want to learn more about how 51���� helps students exceed, visit our student experience page. Contact us if you have any questions at (866) 684-6127.