High School Independent Study

Verdugo Academy is the high school independent study program offered by Glendale Unified School District and is available to students attending grades 9 through 12. This program is offered as an option for students needing an alternative learning environment in which to succeed.

The program works best for students who are self-motivated, are avid readers, and who work well independently. Parental supervision of student work completion is also a factor contributing to student success. Students wishing to attend Verdugo Academy must pass a pre-enrollment reading and writing test to ensure that they have the skills to succeed in independent study.

Courses of Study

The Verdugo Academy curriculum is the same high-quality course of study offered at schools in the Glendale Unified School District. District-approved texts and instructional materials are provided free of charge to students in this program. 

Verdugo Academy teachers meet weekly with students to provide an individualized approach to each student’s needs and learning styles. Teachers maintain communication with parents and are generally available to answer questions throughout the day by phone or email. Parent-teacher meetings occur regularly to maintain the close school-to-home collaboration that is a hallmark of the program. 

Verdugo Academy provides students with all the requirements for graduation and college admission, including Honors and AP, and courses are UC a-g approved, as well as NCAA approved. Students also have the option of pursuing courses at other locations while attending Verdugo Academy. (See "Additional Course Offerings" below for more information.)

Verdugo Academy courses are concentrated into 8-16-week blocks so that students complete 4-6 courses at a time but finish them at varying rates. For example, a student might be enrolled in English 10-1, Integrated Math 2A, and an elective, but complete them at a different pace. Courses such as language arts and social science generally take 8-12 weeks to complete, while math, lab science, and foreign language typically take 12-16 weeks. The teacher and student plan a course of study that works for the individual’s learning style while keeping the same pace of course completion as students at comprehensive high schools.

Verdugo Academy courses are entirely aligned with state and national standards of educational excellence and are equal in quality and scope to the curriculum provided for students enrolled in traditional classroom settings in the Glendale Unified School District.

Additional Course Offerings

Students wishing to complete work outside of Verdugo Academy to broaden their selection of courses may consider the following:

Community College Classes – are open to 9th through 12th graders with a GPA of 2.0 or better and must be approved by a school administrator. College fees will apply and must be paid by the family.

Summer Session – at a Glendale public high school or an accredited private school is another option for completing courses that might not be offered at Verdugo Academy. Prior approval by a school administrator is required. All fees must be paid by the family.

Adult Education – Seniors may take classes concurrently at Adult Ed, and some juniors may also qualify.

CTE classes – allow students to acquire job skills and are available to all students in the Glendale School district. These classes are offered at different sites in the community and begin each semester starting in September, February, and at the start of the summer session.

Private Lessons — Students working in private classes such as music, dance, foreign language, or another activity that is part of the high school curriculum may qualify for school credit. Work completed with an outside instructor must be documented, and the student may be awarded 5 credits per course on a Credit / No Credit basis. Such credits are given only at the discretion of the school administrator.