District launches new partnership with RISE Online Academy
By Molly Ann Howell
Managing Editor
Gallup-McKinley County Schools officially ended its partnership with Stride Inc. on June 30, 2025. Soon after that, they entered into a new partnership with RISE Online Academy, and the 2026-2027 school year marks the second year with the program.
Graduation Alliance runs RISE, partnering with school districts across the U.S. to operate alternative education initiatives, dropout recovery pathways, and specialized “RISE” academies tailored for credit-deficient or non-traditional students.
During the Sept. 17 GMCS School Board meeting, Graduation Alliance representatives outlined the goals of this new venture.
“At its core, RISE Academy is designed to balance structure with flexibility,” Ryan Imbriale, Chief Operating Officer of Graduation Alliance, said. “We recognize that our students have unique schedules and learning needs, so we’ve structured our curriculum to be scaffolded and accessible while maintaining high academic standards.”
As GMCS’s official virtual education branch, RISE provides a fully accredited curriculum that the New Mexico Public Education Department recognizes, culminating in a standard state high school diploma. To ensure equitable access, Graduation Alliance supplies students with laptops and free Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities, eliminating technology barriers.
Because students can access the online curriculum 24/7, RISE offers a seamless alternative for those who need flexible schedules due to personal commitments or who do not thrive in traditional classroom environments. Additionally, students receive support from certified teachers, dedicated academic coaches, family advocates, and 24/7 virtual tutors.
The academy adapts its instructional framework to fit each stage of student development by blending live teacher interaction with independent study:
Elementary Level: The curriculum emphasizes foundational skills and interactive learning. Younger students start with a 9 am morning check-in with a teacher, followed by flexible, play-based exploration and specialized tracks in art, music, or physical education.
Middle School: Instruction shifts toward academic depth and student autonomy. Students complete independent research projects, deliver presentations, and join collaborative group assignments alongside live tutoring blocks.
High School: Instructors prepare students for post-secondary education or careers. Students enroll in four courses at a time, selecting from over 100 electives—such as Web Design and Medical Terminology—alongside an honors track that uses year-long portfolio projects.
Even while enrolled in the online program, students can still participate in GMCS extracurricular activities, such as sports and clubs.
Following the presentation, School Board Vice President Priscilla Benally requested a more detailed follow-up report containing performance data for GMCS’s online students. She also recommended comparing their outcomes directly against peers attending GMCS’s brick-and-mortar schools.
Furthermore, board members raised questions about how the program manages underperforming students. Imbriale explained that if a student struggles with the online format or curriculum, and a teacher determines it is not the right fit, the district reassigns that student to a traditional brick-and-mortar school.
Regarding state assessments, Graduation Alliance collaborates directly with GMCS’s state test coordinator, conducting weekly check-ins to enforce district protocols.
Board member Dr. Valory Wangler asked Superintendent Jvanna Hanks II how the district plans to avoid the operational pitfalls it previously experienced with Stride, Inc.
Hanks reassured the board, explaining that a cross-departmental GMCS committee—comprising of the Special Education Department, the academics team, and personnel staff—meets weekly to monitor the online program. She emphasized that the team specifically verifies that staff enter student grades into the GMCS system accurately and maintain appropriate student-teacher ratios.
Assistant Superintendent Carrie Lovato also expressed strong confidence in the initiative and highlighted the internal changes GMCS implemented to support it.
“I think a big shift the district has made in this new partnership is bringing all of the right people to the table on a consistent basis and being very transparent about what the issues are and what the concerns are,” Lovato said.
To learn more about RISE ACADEMY, visit https://enroll.riseonlineacademy.org
