Focus on August: A New Opportunity for Students, High-performing Schools, a ‘Produce Pop-up,’ and a New High School

Generations of students have gone to school, sat in a classroom, and learned with a teacher standing in front of them. For many students, that system doesn’t fit well into their lifestyles, so National Heritage Academies^® (NHA^®) developed a self-paced learning program within its already established PrepNet Virtual Academy.

Launched for the 2025-2026 school year, PrepNet’s self-paced model is designed for students who are ready to learn, and need a more flexible, personalized path to succeed.

“For some students, the obstacle isn’t ability, it’s the reality of responsibilities outside the classroom,” said Melissa Brandon, principal of PrepNet Virtual Academy. “Self-paced learning gives them a way forward that is flexible, rigorous and supported.”

In NHA’s first year of self-paced learning, PrepNet Virtual Academy enrolled more than 300 students across K-12, including 151 students in grades nine through 12.

Read more about this story here!

Below are links to other special stories from the month of August:

• A Lesson in Compassion at Ridge Park Charter Academy Goes Beyond the Classroom
• Sky Ranch Preparatory Academy Celebrates Inaugural Year with Ribbon Cutting
• Alliance Academy Hosts ‘Produce Pop-up’ on its Front Lawn
• Advantage Charter Academy Leads Baker in Every Subject on State LEAP Tests

Visit our recent news blog for more stories about NHA schools.
About National Heritage Academies
National Heritage Academies (NHA) is a network of 103 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 67,000 students in kindergarten through high school. For more information, visit nhaschools.com. To find the nearest charter school near you, use the NHA school finder.