26 Jul Credit Where Credit’s Due
APEX classes help students catch up—or get ahead
Like a lot of students who experienced their high school years during COVID, Ibrahim Yamani had a hard time doing classes online.
“We were at home, and I did Zooms. I’d do a couple assignments, and then I slept, or ate, or went outside,” Ibri said of his freshman year. “It’s quarantine, so everyone’s inside. Next year, my sophomore year, I was like, ‘I should’ve paid attention!’ I was behind almost seventeen credits.”
His counselors and teachers at Bartlett High School warned him that he might not graduate on time if he didn’t find a way to recover the credits he needed.
Fortunately for Ibri, both Bartlett and CITC offer APEX courses: flexible, mastery-based digital curricula that allow students to work at their own pace to achieve their academic goals.
“APEX is online and asynchronous and can be done over the summer and throughout the school year at CITC,” explained Yumeko Ziegler, a former academic instructor with CITC’s Youth Education department. “It’s aimed toward credit recovery, or credit advancement, and it’s a really great way to catch up or graduate early—whatever your needs are.”
Ibri needed to get back on the path to graduation. Through a combination of APEX courses at his school and at CITC, he steadily worked his way through the credits he was lacking in subjects like science, history, math, and even art appreciation.
When it came to creative writing, Ibri worked with Yumeko at the Denełchin Lab, where CITC’s Youth Education programs are housed. Throughout the summer, Ibri could drop in during APEX hours, whenever he needed assistance.
“Sometimes people need a space dedicated toward their classes,” Yumeko pointed out. “It was really fun to see Ibri grow as a writer and see what he was interested in and the stories he wanted to tell.”
At CITC’s APEX sessions, an instructor is on hand to provide assistance as students work through each course’s assignments, quizzes, and tests. Because APEX courses are designed to be flexible and to meet a student’s individual learning needs, high schoolers like Ibri can work at their own pace, taking advantage of one-on-one guidance from teachers and instructors when needed.
Ibri was motivated to earn the credit he needed. “I might [have] become a ‘super senior,’” he said. “I was like, No. I’ll bust my butt until I have enough credits. Apex really helped me because […] it kept me on track and made me go through more and more classes faster.”
APEX isn’t just for students who have fallen behind; the courses can also support those students who want to advance more quickly through their learning to graduate early or take advanced courses.
In Ibri’s case, patience and perseverance paid off: This spring, he graduated on time and almost immediately began looking for a job. In the fall, he’ll attend the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he hopes to major in automotive technology.
When he finished his credits with the help of APEX courses at Bartlett and CITC, Ibri said, “I felt relieved because I was in awe that I made it this far. Thanks to the APEX classes, I was on track to graduate.”
Is your high schooler falling behind? Or do they want to get ahead of the curve? APEX courses might be right for them! Contact CITC’s Youth Education department at yesdept@citci.org to learn about credit recovery and credit advancement opportunities through APEX.
Learn more about CITC programs for youth at citci.org/youth-services.