WATERLOO — Students enrolled in self-paced online classes at East and West high schools during the past year are completing more credits, earning higher grades and behaving better, school officials say.

The performance-based diploma academies started last fall at both schools for those that struggle with traditional classroom learning approaches. Classes are offered in math, English, social studies and science using an Internet-based curriculum aligned to Waterloo Community Schools’ standards.

Students complete computer-guided tutorials, practice the concept and take a test. To move on to another concept, they need to earn at least 80 percent on the test. Plato Learning created the software.

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