{"id":44503,"date":"2026-05-18T20:45:44","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T20:45:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/destinations-career-academy-of-new-mexico-nmdca-graduates-more-than-220-students\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T20:45:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T20:45:44","slug":"destinations-career-academy-of-new-mexico-nmdca-graduates-more-than-220-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/destinations-career-academy-of-new-mexico-nmdca-graduates-more-than-220-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Destinations Career Academy of New Mexico (NMDCA) Graduates More Than 220 Students"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"main-body-container\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p align=\"left\">ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., May  18, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) &#8212; Destinations Career Academy of New Mexico (NMDCA), a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/Tracker?data=lGSgCEolow7r-OzSbRyzMM8w15yU2RKr884VBU5oQaCTWUyP5BbDSiKZXDz3x90K6QkA3uv-29SwWEZc8HkGTicmWHVWE6lEkFpd-5mIb8ETMxhtIeQFv5p7jQsvOeQUVKi_B0XFSvFpzmL-sDlgtYUI4pmNztP03UJCArG9wOPiZTUP_sWJeKdessOM17d89EfAWpzN0qSjcQR1P_7UYb2SwpSjN9683iBPUcBcW9Y=\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"K12\">K12<\/a>-powered online public school serving students in grades K\u201312 statewide, celebrated the graduation of more than 220 students during a commencement ceremony at Embassy Suites on Friday, May 15, 2026. Among them, 122 earned industry-recognized certifications before receiving their diplomas, providing a clear head start as they enter the next chapter of their lives. <\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><strong>Class of 2026 at a Glance<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>122 graduates earned industry-recognized certifications before graduation<\/li>\n<li>110 are pursuing college or certification programs, with post-secondary destinations including the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, Arizona State University, and community colleges across the state<\/li>\n<li>103 are entering the workforce<\/li>\n<li>23 completed their coursework early<\/li>\n<li>Ten are first-generation graduates<\/li>\n<li>Six are enlisting in the military<\/li>\n<li>Students represent 24 of New Mexico&#8217;s 33 counties<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p align=\"left\">\u201cThis marks NMDCA\u2019s 6<sup>th<\/sup> graduation ceremony, and watching the school grow from 11 graduates in its first year to over 220 graduates today reflects what\u2019s possible when students get the support and flexibility they need,\u201d <strong>said Daniel Diamond, Executive Director of New Mexico Destinations Academy<\/strong>.\u00a0\u201cThese graduates leave with real credentials, real skills and a foundation to take on whatever comes next.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Nearly 45\u00a0percent\u00a0of students\u00a0enrolling\u00a0during the 2024\u201325 school year\u00a0entered credit-deficient,\u00a0underscoring the school\u2019s role in\u00a0supporting\u00a0students who need a second chance.\u00a0Of those students, 58 percent got back on track toward graduation through targeted credit recovery and academic intervention, while another 30 percent maintained expected credit progress. For the Class of 2026, the ceremony represented not only a milestone but a renewed opportunity.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Niyoka McCoy - Chief Learning Officer K12\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/ml.globenewswire.com\/Resource\/Download\/65b2e22c-6ca8-4009-a37a-256f7e3914a5\/niyoka-mccoy-chief-learning-officer-k12.jpg\" width=\"600\" data-dpi=\"72\" data-caption=\"Niyoka McCoy, Chief Learning Officer at K12, addresses the 2026 NMDCA graduates.\" data-filename=\"Niyoka McCoy - Chief Learning Officer K12.JPG\"\/><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">This year\u2019s graduates arrived from every corner of New Mexico, and the diversity of those communities is reflected in the students themselves. With 61 percent Hispanic\/Latino students and 13 percent Native American students, NMDCA&#8217;s student population is more diverse than the statewide average. The school serves students across rural, Tribal and urban communities statewide, including students receiving special education services and ELL support.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Students in grades 7-12 can engage in career exploration, postsecondary readiness and workforce preparation while earning industry-recognized certifications through NMDCA\u2019s career and\u00a0technical\u00a0education\u00a0(CTE) courses, which span fields such as\u00a0arts and design, digital technology, energy and natural resources, hospitality, business,\u00a0marketing\u00a0and health science.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"State Senator Pete Campos\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/ml.globenewswire.com\/Resource\/Download\/a4991790-bd3b-41d0-beb2-a5da73dacb9b\/state-senator-pete-campos.jpg\" width=\"600\" data-dpi=\"72\" data-caption=\"New Mexico State Senator addresses the 2026 NMDCA graduating class.\" data-filename=\"State Senator Pete Campos.JPG\"\/><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">\u201cPeople sometimes assume that virtual learning means learning in isolation \u2013 our students prove otherwise,\u201d <strong>said <\/strong><strong>Martin Madrid, Superintendent of Santa Rosa Consolidated Schools<\/strong><strong>.<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019ve watched NMDCA students compete in rodeos, race dirt bikes, play football, and organize community fundraisers. The flexibility is what keeps them deeply woven into their communities, not just their classrooms.\u201d<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><strong>About Destinations Career Academy of New Mexico<br \/><\/strong>Destinations Career Academy of New Mexico (NMDCA) is an online public school serving students in grades\u00a0K-12\u00a0across\u00a0New Mexico, offering a blend of core academic subjects and career-focused programs. Powered by K12, a Stride, Inc. portfolio brand, NMDCA is tuition-free, authorized by Santa Rosa Consolidated Schools and Chama Valley Independent School District.\u00a0The school helps students gain valuable skills for future success, whether in higher education\u00a0or\u00a0the workforce. Explore more at nmdca.k12.com.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><strong>About K12<br \/><\/strong>For 25 years,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/Tracker?data=py60hXmt9Qp4fvqWmuiFe77oinggh1pbU7uwzAQtdUktAs-FAd56NknWo-Yze94McGwFBo51pNOcCS_TjK9Ab0aKzlHzwHWxPv4y0zhQrs1sJyNXZt8-SoDielHGKoaVfl5gASYp4LRmCPhGD_NQPnjOiW_q6xI8wCrbCBLKFW27ewuYnEeJVyv2b0VanTaMOvOVwvw6j1SwkCutYzSJYSwWkYjIvp2iNdG7O6iIkuA=\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"K12\">K12<\/a> has been a national leader in virtual education, serving more than three million students across the country. K12 provides families with flexible learning options, including online public and private schools, personalized\u00a0tutoring\u00a0and accredited homeschool curriculum. K12 is a portfolio brand of Stride, Inc.<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><strong>Press Contact<br \/><\/strong>Beverly Hsu<br \/>K12<br \/>Press@K12.com<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\">Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:<\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/Tracker?data=5FPIzCjJAwqPR75cfQAoTAiiKT3FqZM8xtjm2KEsfJ6_7jV53pNa84RCCuRhG2Tn2YvICZ_gOU3NMdGxnSt75Oc5HGxkrLFTPX-ocoDnsnaEmNjOw_PV8rfMP7FNzxIYawmUxjaKsqX7rv4_BvAVGBU1JNql2e8FZQnVFqK5q4o3SnuO56FRhmpxWu_il5p1Ut9Jw9C5MRfkcIOW2g1Fec6QfGB9tWH4ewIapztZMjIlUfA_DQLrEBeEHG6SmJ0r932J5av3Wgq_Cchb--n0Jg==\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\">https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/NewsRoom\/AttachmentNg\/9cd7ab67-c0fa-4fb5-9b55-19899a78067e<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/Tracker?data=5FPIzCjJAwqPR75cfQAoTAiiKT3FqZM8xtjm2KEsfJ6_7jV53pNa84RCCuRhG2Tne0nkCtqJKsJjsXtayQgL7gOW_k_Lo9rgRCzU7tqp-7jb7NgKe8SJRdSObTlij4YbYf2VpcrtpbZOwEemVQ8Yvg-7goCfuKvLpH0smsp9yhKXdbfVa69iXw-PveteEizuGuOh5ER-04Suzx7Yb-ISEufDvqZ2jUr_4oR47DMJhOW2EHw_ymkrRLn9tZ2xcQQBvsy0n-YMultxfB0wYth96g==\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\">https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/NewsRoom\/AttachmentNg\/65b2e22c-6ca8-4009-a37a-256f7e3914a5<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/Tracker?data=5FPIzCjJAwqPR75cfQAoTAiiKT3FqZM8xtjm2KEsfJ6_7jV53pNa84RCCuRhG2TnXPlS_8BXAvVB6cFiAdj8rcmyg2TBwozeTodkof8sNMQ7ndMSrvXr4hLu70e1anBPG8VQm7pJUbPxFQhTPlnsjTJ-fTY2mIGuoHoM35ijzdn70VUBuTR5TiFAV3vf5_oWinD9gLcb8JVSpgMcDqzQHeNTHEiUBstMaMW3yk5Wd-eokAxF5l5VvdukMEF3qFz5RdM-WGNoAozU_awRj1-SJA==\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\">https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/NewsRoom\/AttachmentNg\/a4991790-bd3b-41d0-beb2-a5da73dacb9b<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/ml.globenewswire.com\/media\/ZDZlMzA3ZmUtZDRhMS00N2JhLWIzMTUtMWI2NzRjMDBiNGExLTUwMDE2MjczNS0yMDI2LTA1LTE4LWVu\/tiny\/Destinations-Career-Academy-of.png\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\"\/>\n            <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., May 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) &#8212; Destinations Career Academy of New Mexico (NMDCA), a\u00a0K12-powered online public school serving students in grades K\u201312 statewide, celebrated the graduation of more than 220 students during a commencement ceremony at Embassy Suites on Friday, May 15, 2026. Among them, 122 earned industry-recognized certifications before receiving their diplomas, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":44504,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/ml.globenewswire.com\/Resource\/Download\/9cd7ab67-c0fa-4fb5-9b55-19899a78067e","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-globenewswire"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44503"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44503\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44504"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allonlinebanglanewspapers.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}