MANSFIELD, Ga. - This May, Mansfield resident Chance Simpson will be walking the stage with his fellow graduating class from Georgia Connections Academy. But something is unique about Chance’s walk.

No, it won’t be the fact he will be meeting some of his classmates for the first time because he’s graduating from a completely online high school which welcomes students from across the state. His walk is unique because Chance is only 13 years old.

Chance is graduating high school four years early. The Mansfield native started out-pacing his classmates in kindergarten, and the pattern never stopped. By the fourth grade, his parents took him to Emory University in Atlanta to test him. It was there that the institution declared him an “Einstein Jr.”.

This revelation made Chance’s mother, Martha Simpson, know right away she needed to find a school where Chance and his rapid learning pace could excel. So when she learned of GACA, she knew it was the perfect school for him to succeed.

“The school and their staff has been a lifesaver,” Martha said. “GACA is our rock. Their flexibility and Chance’s ability to learn so quickly gave him the opportunity to pursue many other interests.  He’s already earned a second-degree black belt.”

What makes Chance’s story even more incredible is the odds he has overcome. The 13-year-old senior was abandoned at just six weeks before Martha and her husband took him in and became his legal guardians.

Chance was driven to achieve, he said, and he credits the dedication of his teachers at Georgia Connections Academy for helping him reach maximum success in his early education. He will enter Georgia’s Point University this Fall and get his Bachelors in Science/Public Health before seeking Pre-med in Neurology.

“Stories like Chance’s are a centerpiece of what our school is all about,” GACA Executive Director Heather J. Robinson said. “Chance’s success is the reason why everyone at our school works tirelessly to provide the best education and lifestyle opportunities for students and families across the state in an ever-changing educational environment. We help any student from any county find their best self through quality instruction.”