Challenge

Centinela Valley Union High School District (CVUHSD) in Southern California has often struggled with how to address credit deficiency, and it needed something that would allow its students to recover credits at an accelerated pace. Though the district had used digital courseware for years, it came to recognize that its previous platform wasn’t keeping up with student and teacher needs. 

“The system we used before relied heavily on video lectures,” said Molly Nellman, Director of Educational Technology and Assessment. “It wasn’t engaging, and it didn’t offer the variety of learning experiences we felt our kids needed. Students would just press play and zone out. It wasn’t rigorous or meaningful.”

Solution

Seeking a platform that offered more flexibility and stronger instructional support, in 2019, CVUHSD chose Edmentum to revamp its credit recovery program, initially adopting Apex Learning Courses, now part of the Edmentum family. Teachers found the program easier to monitor progress and provide timely support, and students responded positively to the structured, rigorous coursework.

To build on this success, the district began transitioning to Edmentum Courseware to expand access and improve flexibility in 2021. 

“It was a huge improvement,” commented Mrs. Nellman. “We really liked the interface. It was more modern-looking and easier to manage for our teachers.”

Mrs. Nellman continued, “Courseware gives us more options. We’re able to offer a wider range of courses, which is especially important for our students with unique needs or irregular academic histories.”

What sets CVUHSD apart is how intentionally it has designed its implementation. Students are enrolled in Edmentum courses during scheduled periods within the school day, supported by credentialed teachers in their respective content areas. 

“For example, a teacher might have one period of Edmentum, and students in that class could all be working on different English courses,” illustrated Mrs. Nellman. “It’s structured but flexible.”

This approach ensures that students aren’t working in isolation. They have access to educators who can guide them through challenging content, answer questions, and maintain instructional quality. And because those teachers are credentialed, the district is able to align with University of California (UC) approval requirements for coursework.

“We are able to utilize the UC approval of the courses by making sure that the teachers who teach them are credentialed in that area,” stated Mrs. Nellman. “That ensures our students are earning credit that counts toward college eligibility.”

The flexibility of the platform also allows for meaningful pacing. 

“Students aren’t bound by term schedules,” declared Mrs. Nellman. “If a student finishes English 9A, their counselor can immediately enroll them in English 9B. And if they’re partway through a course at the end of a term, they can continue right into the next term without starting over.”

Result

Courseware has made a tangible impact on student outcomes. 

“It’s a very flexible plan and seems to work pretty well now that we have all of our policies and procedures down,” reported Mrs. Nellman. “Students are able to take ownership of their learning in a way that really works for them.”

The quality of the content also matters. 

“Edmentum doesn’t rely on just one format like video lectures,” described Mrs. Nellman. “There are animations, readings, videos, and interactive activities. That variety helps keep students engaged.” 

The district’s commitment to quality also shows in how it manages the system day-to-day. 

“Every morning, I visit the system, and I do the updates,” noted Mrs. Nellman. “That allows me to keep my finger on the pulse of the program, to spot issues early, and make sure everything is running smoothly. It’s not something we set up and forget.”

This hands-on approach ensures that students don’t slip through the cracks. It also signals that credit recovery at CVUHSD is a serious, tightly managed academic program—not a shortcut. 

“If we didn’t have this in place, many of our students wouldn’t graduate,” Mrs. Nellman remarked. “It ultimately comes down to that—giving students the opportunity to reach the goal of earning a high school diploma.”

Students in the independent study program, who only appear in-person once a week, have also benefited from the platform’s structure. 

“Edmentum supports that model perfectly,” she enthused. “Students are able to work asynchronously and come in for assessments or check-ins. It gives them the freedom they need while still maintaining accountability.”

Mrs. Nellman credits much of the program’s success to the quality of Edmentum’s support and partnership: “I know there are people I can call who will respond. And when there’s a problem, it will get fixed, and people care. Honestly, that makes me a lifelong customer.”

With Edmentum, Centinela Valley Union High School District has created a credit recovery program that is rigorous, easy to use, and truly student-centered—one that empowers learners to catch up, stay on track, and graduate with confidence.