Abilene Independent School District, of Abilene, Texas, will be presented the Rock Star School Award on Thursday, May 21, 2015, by Edmentum, a leading provider of online learning solutions. The district has successfully utilized Edmentum’s online learning solutions, Plato Courseware and Study Island, to improve test scores, increase passing rates, and boost overall student success over the past five years.

As part of an extended school program launched during the 2010-11 school year, Abilene ISD began using Plato Courseware to help increase graduation rates. The program extends beyond the traditional school day by offering custom courses specifically built for the district.

During the program’s first year, Abilene ISD went from being rated “academically unacceptable” to “acceptable” according to the Texas Education Agency. Since then, the district’s overall graduation rate has improved by more than seven points to 93.6 percent. In the 2013-14 school year, 1,276 unique learners earned 2,635 semester credits using Edmentum programs.

“We originally started the program to help students at risk, but it has become so much more,” said Heath Wright, instructional technology coordinator. “Web-based and online learning is now embedded into the culture of our district. We have helped kids that are behind to those that want to free up their schedule to take courses that better match their career goals.”

Edmentum’s Rock Star School program recognizes outstanding schools and districts by their inventive and effective uses of Edmentum learning solutions. The Rock Star School Award presentation will occur at 8:45 a.m. on May 21, 2015, at Cooper High School: 3639 Sayles Blvd, Abilene, Texas, 79605. For more details on the success at Abilene ISD, read the success story on edmentum.com.

About Edmentum, Inc.

Edmentum, Inc. is a leading provider of proven online and mobile learning solutions designed to drive student achievement for academic and career success. With more than 50 years of experience driving significant advances in the industry, Edmentum offers a wide variety of innovative program solutions to empower 21st century teaching and learning. For more information, visit www.edmentum.com.

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