Donors, HCCF Save Alternative Education in Northern Hamilton County

Since opening in 2023, Northern Hamilton County Academy (NHCA) has become a vital resource, ensuring that more at-risk students in the region graduate high school.  

“We originally built NHCA because expelling or suspending a student just doesn’t help anyone  – not the student, not our community,” said Dr. Dave Mundy, Superintendent of Sheridan Community Schools. “But with smaller classes, consistent relationships, and other focused help, NHCA gets more of those kids to their graduation and to a better path after high school.” 

Dr. Mundy partnered with his Hamilton Heights superintendent counterpart, Dr. Derek Arrowood, to offer a more responsive option for non-traditional learners.  

At NHCA, many students are making up for credits they missed. Others may have disciplinary issues or may thrive in smaller class sizes with a later start time. Several of their students are ready to enter the workforce ahead of graduation and just need to power through their remaining credits. In every case, the unique learning environment at NHCA improves a student’s odds of graduating high school and doing so on time.  

While such alternative education models are proven effective, they are far more costly than traditional classrooms. In 2025, Indiana cut funding for alternative education programs by 84%. This followed an earlier property tax bill (Senate Bill 1) that many school districts already anticipated would reduce their staff and services. 

In short, Mundy and Arrowood needed to locate a new and significant source of funding if they wanted to keep NHCA alive. 

They would locate that funding through a partnership among northern Hamilton County donors, Hamilton County Community Foundation, and a unique grant-matching opportunity from the Lilly Endowment. 

How NHCA works 

Northern Hamilton County Academy offers two daily sessions (morning and afternoon) to help students earn their degree by utilizing whatever support they need. Coursework is primarily online, led by veteran educator Jeff Guenther. When students complete their credits, their degree is issued by their original high school, and they walk with their classmates at graduation.  

The program’s success comes from a low student-to-teacher ratio with enormous flexibility: students who can’t make a 7:30 a.m. bell attend afternoon sessions; students may require only a short time in the program, or, if it’s a better fit than the traditional classroom, they can stay on at NHCA until graduation. 

However, students receive much more than academic assistance…  

• A school social worker addresses mental health and stability needs. 

• A school resource officer spends relationship-building time in the classroom – critical for students who have already experienced involvement with police. 

• Counselors and assistant principals cycle in for planning, accountability, and transitions to and from their original high school. 

• Soon, the program will also offer job coaching and connections to post-secondary career and technical education (CTE) for students.  

How well NHCA works 

In its first year, Northern Hamilton County Academy graduated 91% of its seniors (11 out of 12), exceeding Indiana’s overall graduation rate that same year. In year two, a total of 35 students from Heights, Sheridan, and Westfield earned over 200 credits, while 10 of 13 seniors graduated (the remaining three are on track to finish in spring 2026).  

The program’s successful approach – foregoing expulsion and suspension in favor of focused attention and accommodation – is backed by research. A 2020 Boston University study found that schools with harsher suspension and expulsion policies were associated with worse outcomes in adulthood compared with other schools. That included a 15–20% increase in adult arrests and incarceration, along with negative impacts on educational attainment after high school.  

Additionally, a 2024 analysis found strong links between “pushout” discipline and an increase in adult depression, showing that the negative impact outlives the punishment.  

NHCA takes the opposite approach, keeping students in school, supported, and engaged while still maintaining academic and behavioral expectations within a reduced class size. Every new success rebuilds a student’s confidence and self-esteem, ultimately leading them to their degree and better options after high school.  

How funding came together 

Doctors Arrowood and Mundy have long understood the importance of cross-district collaboration to do great things for northern Hamilton County students. “Districts in our area are smaller, so working together is how we can give our kids every opportunity,” said Arrowood (an HCCF board member as of January 2026).  

With a combined five decades of experience, mainly in northern Hamilton County schools, these two educators have built up a strong reputation among donors in the region.  

“We know our donors,” said Dr. Mundy. “Many of them are more than business owners here. They’re lifelong residents – even graduates of these schools. They have a professional and a personal stake in seeing these kids succeed.” 

With Arrowood and Mundy’s track record, donors were more than willing to listen to the pitch in October after budget cuts hit home.  

“To date, this was definitely our biggest ask of them,” Dr. Arrowood said. “But when HCCF joined the conversation and told them there was a way for their money to double, that really got their attention.” 

He’s referring to the Lilly Endowment’s GIFT VIII initiative, which includes a dollar-for-dollar match of a designated community project. Following the news in October that state funding would be significantly reduced, HCCF engaged the Lilly Endowment to leverage the power of GIFT VIII to meet the sudden need. This allowed donors’ $450,000 gift to turn into $900,000 in support of the NHCA.   

“This was such a community effort,” said HCCF President Danielle Stiles-Polk. “I am so grateful to our northern Hamilton Community partners for stepping up to maximize the Lilly GIFT VIII match. Now these students have a more accessible pathway to graduation, one that is secure for several years to come.” 

NHCA’s local donors include: 

• Gary Reynolds 

• Drayer Family 

• Sonny & Glendia Beck and the Beck Foundation 

• Godby Home Furnishings & the Godby Family 

• Tracey Sheehan 

• Gaylor Electric 

• Biddle Foundation 

• Duke Energy Foundation 

What’s next 

With NHCA’s sustainability addressed for the next 4 to 5 years – and now that Westfield has sufficient capacity to operate their own version independently – Heights and Sheridan are planning to bring their academies onto their own campuses to make services even more accessible to students. They will also expand eligibility to 8th graders and add job coaching for high schoolers.  

The partnership to fund the Northern Hamilton County Academy demonstrates the power of giving every student the support they need to succeed, because their success strengthens our community.  

Want to support this and other education efforts through HCCF? Please contact us to learn more.  

You can contact Danielle Stiles-Polk directly at daniellesp@hamiltoncountycf.org  

For additional context on access gaps in northern Hamilton County, see HCCF’s 2024 Gaps & Opportunities: Hamilton County Community Needs Assessment