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The focus of the Knoxville Center for Student Success (KCSS) has evolved in the four years since Eric Thomas became principal. Initially the school was designed to serve as a way station for students transitioning from incarceration or suspensions back to one of District 150’s three traditional high schools and as a way to add supports for chronically truant students. For increasing numbers of students, however, KCSS has become not a temporary stop, but their “home” high school. “We offer a different structure for students who may not have had a successful freshmen and sophomore year and are behind on credits,” explains Thomas. “We don’t have big hallways or homecoming or prom, although we do have our own celebrations. We’re low-key and there are fewer distractions so students can focus on catching up on the credits they need and completing high school on time.” The school offers extended opportunities to catch up. The school day has nine class periods, rather than seven and the computer lab with Compass Learning is open for three extra hours each Monday through Thursday afternoon as well as during the summer months, provided funding exists. By having online classes mixed with teacher-instructed classes, students are afforded the opportunity to catch up on credits where they have fallen behind due to various life obstacles they are facing. The unusual structure means that a student who has fallen behind can earn 11 credits in a year, rather than the traditional seven. Some of the students have young children and many have jobs, so offering flexibility is important in helping them earn their high school diploma. One recent graduate, a 21-year-old young man, returned to school because, although he had worked several jobs, he knew his chances for keeping a job or advancing were limited without a high school diploma. The students travel to KCSS from all corners of Peoria. Each student is given a CityLink bus pass each day to travel to and from school. The school is
