Vanessa Ventura’s senior year of high school resembled her experience during the pandemic, when, as a seventh-grader, she’d log into her computer and start her day, alone, in front of a screen.
“The main reason I decided to stay home was because I don’t like socializing and having bad connections with people at school,” said Ventura, who graduated this month from Fresno Unified’s virtual school. “I found it more comfortable coming online.”
Five years ago, the pandemic forced unprepared school districts across the country to shift to online learning. Fresno students spent more than a year studying remotely. But, while the vast majority of kids eagerly returned to in-person classrooms after schools reopened, several students stayed home…