Is continental academy a real school in the state of Florida?

Answer 1

Please don't use this program. It's a rip off no college will accept a diploma from them. It is technically accredited by the National Association for the Legal Support of Alternative Schools and the National Coalition of Alternative Community Schools, but they are not recognized by the U.S Department of Education. This means that virtually no colleges, at least none of the good ones will take a student with a diploma from them. But it is not just Continental Academy that scams people, there are many more GED scammers on the internet.

Answer 2

YES. Continental Academy is fully accredited by the National Association for the Legal Support of Alternative Schools and has been continuously accredited by them since year 2000. I graduated from Continental Academy in June 2010 and I'm currently taking classes at Strayer University.

Answer 3

No, they are no longer accredited by SACS. They declined and/or had their accreditation by SACS revoked in 2010 and have not tried reinstated it.

Their "programs" have changes as well, without notifying parents or students.

The only program avail to this date (Dec2012) is a Fast Paced GED PREP course, it's not a High School Diploma, not backed up with all the Prior Accreditation they no longer have. With their "new program" and only avail program, you would still, after paying them your hard earned cash, have to take a high school equivalency test/ High School Exit exam ( if under 17years of age) or a GED exam (later the age of 18 years old). The High School "proficiency" Diploma is only about a total of 11 classes of "Intro to" classes with a few Freshman type classes, nothing for the broad spectrum of a 4 year high school. So in other words after paying and passing this program you would start at the beginning and study for the Unified School District exams ( HS Exit/HS Equivalency test or GED).

I know this because my child was enrolled in, under a previous (now not available), real 4 year High School Study program, with all the correct accreditation.

He/she completed levels 9th-11th and decided to go to Public HS for his/her Senior year. The school would not accept the Cont. Academy Credits or classes that were passed. He/she put 3 years of hard work into the program only to find out that he/she would have to start HS all over again at the Freshman level!

If he/she continued Con. A, the diploma would not reflect the initial accreditation in which he/she was originally enrolled under. (this is per the Con. Academy School administration).

He/she had to study to pass the HS equivalency test, for a HS diploma that would be equal to a 4 year high school education, an early graduation- so to speak. If he/she did not pass the test before 18yrs old, then he/she would have to study for the GED exam which is less appealing to prospective colleges. He/she would then still be able to attend a community college for 2 years then transfer to a 4 year college (regardless of diploma or GED status).

But each State is different and the State that he/she is resides in does allow community college admittance without HS diplomas or GEDs and can be transferable to a 4 year college.

Example:

My sister dropped out of high school mid Senior year, attended community college, transferred over to a 4 year college and has degrees in various fields of work. She did all this in the same State that my child resides in.

Again in answer to your question, NO they are not accredited by SACS. The accreditation(s) they do have are not, nor ever were recognized by any State, School District, any College of any level, Public High school or Regional nor National recognition. They are accredited, loosely termed, by NALSAS, which is only there to protect the consumer, making sure the student gets the materials they paid for (not the education they paid for) and NCACS, a membership group ( like getting a membership to Costco).

At some point they did have the proper accreditation to fulfil the requirements of a genuine HS diploma, recognized by all institutions. So some the past diplomas are legit and other are not. You will see many comments on other sites, saying that they "graduated" and didn't have any problems getting into a 4 year college, yes when they had the accreditation- but people sometimes forget that just because their diploma is validated, it does not mean that all others are as well.

Hope this cleared up your question.

Answer 4

Continental Academy has been continously accredited by NALSAS since year 2000.

Answer 5

Yes