MSD19 Success Academy has two programs of Initial Credit housed at 63 West Main Street (about 3 minutes east of MHS) and our Credit Recovery in room 165 at MHS. For more information: Success Academy Handbook.

• Initial Credit: certified teacher, Ms. Amanda Koch, and Instructional Aide, Ms. Erinn Green, along with our dedicated Social Worker, Ms. Rachel Stellhorn, supervise, monitor and teach students enrolled in the Success Academy. This program is aimed at students with truancy, medical and/or other reasons requiring a different venue for learning (student placement and continued participation in this program is an Administrative decision).  

• Credit Recovery: certified teacher, Ms. Crystal Black, supervises, monitors and teaches students enrolled in her Study Skills class who are deficient in credits toward graduation (student placement is determined by their school Counselor). 

What is Alternative Learning? 

Alternative Learning, offered through the MSD19 Success Academy, exists to meet the needs of students that cannot be adequately addressed in a traditional classroom setting or are needing to recover credits toward graduation. Through assigning students to alternative classrooms and/or online learning platforms that are designed to remediate academic performance, improve behavior, and/or provide an enhanced learning experience, they can achieve success. 

For those parents/guardians with students needing an Alternative Learning placement for Initial Credit, please note that determination is based upon several factors:

• Attendance - Chronic attendance issues - excess of 10% of total school days, with a priority for those with higher rates

• Social/Emotional - Medical recommendation by physician for alternative setting due to diagnosed anxiety or associated healthcare concern as needed or appropriate

• Academics - Generally failing two of more courses (or in danger of) due to attendance or underlying related attendance issue 

  • Failure of current courses due to lack of participation, i.e. 0% for missing assignments 

    • In danger of dropping out of HS

• Disciplinary - Should have no serious behavioral / disciplinary record (particularly safety/security related discipline; cannot be disruptive to the learning environment) 

Please reach out by email or phone to Mr. Chris Lindsay, Director of Alternative Programs: lindsayc@msd19.or or 618-566-8512 Ext. 5503 with any questions.