Our Program
Earn a high school diploma and acquire career-ready skills.
If you feel marginalized or stuck, LCA’s Program can help you achieve a diploma and create a bright future!
Graduation is Possible!
A Unique Approach
Lancaster County Academy (LCA) offers a non-traditional school environment designed for students who may feel marginalized in a traditional setting. With two campuses in Lancaster and Mount Joy, we proudly support students from 11 sending schools, providing an alternative path to success.
Our flexible, career-focused program allows students to complete their 21 required credits while gaining real-world skills and confidence in an environment that values independence, self-paced learning, and personal growth.
LCA PROGRAM FEATURES:
✅ Flexible Hours – Learn at a pace that works for you
✅ Self-Paced Instruction – Move through coursework based on individual progress
✅ Work-Based Learning Experiences – Hands-on career exposure
✅ Career Exploration & Labor Market Awareness – Discover meaningful career paths
✅ Earn a Standard High School Diploma – Not a GED, but a diploma that meets state requirements
✅ Pathways Beyond High School – Connections to college, military, and workforce opportunities
LCA provides the support, structure, and flexibility students need to thrive beyond the traditional classroom and step confidently into their futures.
A Path for Every Student.
Create Your Future.
LCA Courses
There is a path to graduation for everyone!
English
(4 credits required)
- English 9
- English 12
- Literature
- Principles of Writing
- Business English
Social Studies
(3 credits required)
- Modern American History
- American Government
- Economics (1/2 or 1 credit)
- Advanced Geography (1/2 or 1 credit)
- Civic and Social Issues (1/2 or 1 credit)
- Psychology (1/2 or 1 credit)
- Sociology (1/2 or 1 credit)
Phys Ed / Health
(1 credit required; Must Have Both)
- P.E. (by contract) (.25 credit)
- Health & Wellness (.25 credit)
- Health Disorders (.25 Credit)
- Health & Personal Relationships (.25 credit)
School to Work
(2 credits required)
- Career Connections/Job Shadowing
- Service Learning
Mathematics
(3 credits required)
- Alg Review/Geo
- Algebra I
- Algebra II
- Geometry
- Trigonometry
- Pre-Calculus
- App Math 1
- App Math 2
- App Math 3
- Elementary Statistics
- Math Plus
- Topics in Advanced Math
Science
(3 credits required)
- Physics
- Integrated Science I (1/2 Credit)
- Integrated Science II (1/2 Credit)
- Environment & Ecology
- Biology
- Chemistry
Electives
(5 credits required)
- Arts & Humanities
- Citizen, Government, Law
- Community Resources
- Health, Nutrition, Personal Awarness (.50 credit)
- Health & Safety (.75 credit)
You can Graduate!
Graduation is Achievable with LCA.
Graduation Requirements
A minimum of 21 credits is required for graduation including:
- English – 4 credits
- Science – 3 credits
- Mathematics – 3 credits
- Social Studies – 3 credits
- Health & Physical Education – 1 credit
- Electives – 5 credits
- Service Learning or Career Internship – 1 credit (Required)
- Career Connections – 1 credit (Required)
Additional Graduation Requirement Details
At Lancaster County Academy, students and teachers work in tandem to ensure all coursework aligns with rigorous 21st-century academic standards set by the state of Pennsylvania. This approach guarantees that students graduate college and career ready, equipped with the necessary skills to succeed beyond high school.
Graduation Requirements & Academic Structure
📌 Credit Transfer: Student transcripts from previous schools determine the remaining coursework needed to meet LCA’s graduation requirements. All applicable credits successfully completed at prior schools are applied.
📌 Career & Community Engagement: Every student is required to earn:
- 1 credit in Career Exploration/Preparation
- 1 credit in Career Exploration/Preparation
- 1 credit for either:
- Volunteering: 55 hours with a non-profit organization
- Work-Study: 100 hours of verified work experience
- All work-study and community service hours must be verified before graduation.
📌 Flexible Learning Model:
- LCA follows an open-entry, open-exit design where students work at a self-paced, competency-based level with a strong focus on career development and employment skills training.
- Coursework integrates computer-aided instruction, individual and team projects, and real-world performance assessments.
📌 Mastery-Based Assessment:
- Students who do not initially meet mastery requirements will receive targeted support and continue re-mediation until all requirements are successfully met.
- Due to this mastery-based model, class rank and GPA are not computed at LCA.
Attendance & Make-Up Requirements
- Students must complete 16 hours of in-person attendance per week.
- If hours are missed, they must be made up through:
✅ Flexible Fridays – Dedicated school time for making up missed hours. Please note: Friday hours are held at the East Campus. All West Campus students needing to make up missed hours are responsible for finding transportation to and from the East Campus location.
✅ Verified Community Service – Completing hours with LCA’s non-profit community partners.
This structure ensures that students not only meet academic and state graduation requirements but also develop real-world skills through hands-on learning, work-based experiences, and community engagement. LCA prepares students to transition seamlessly into higher education, the workforce, or the military with confidence and readiness.
Get Started With LCA
Click below to be taken to the Get Started page, where you can complete the prospective student application and schedule a time to meet the director in person at one of our campuses.