13-Year-Old Completes High School

Chance Simpson went to his senior prom last week. And, he’ll graduate from Georgia Connections Academy on May 31. What’s so unusual about this? Chance is only 13 years old.

Chance began attending Georgia Connections Academy in the fourth grade after attending Covington Academy and Red Oak School where he began his education. And, not only will he graduate at 13, he is currently taking four college classes, from Piedmont Technical College—anatomy, literature, history and statistics.

Chance is an honor graduate and a Beta Club graduate and also has honors for science. There are 342 graduates in his class.

Chance’s mom couldn’t be prouder. And, she could have not been his mom. Martha Anne and husband, Donnie, babysat Chance when he was a few weeks old. His mother never came back. It was not a problem; they just adopted him, and raised him as their own. They have two older sons, James, now 31, and Stanley, 28.

Stanley would even babysit, and Chance would be by his side while he did his school work…perhaps where Chance got a head start in his schooling.

And, although he doesn’t attend regular school, Chance has outlets for socialization. The family, who lives in Mansfield, attends Eastridge Community Church, where they are active, and Chance is a second degree black belt in martial arts. He has taken karate for six and a half years, and is now training to be an instructor. He has completed his karate training at UMAS Karate. And, speaking of social outlets…karate is where he met his girlfriend, 12-year-old Connie Jenkins.

The prom was held at in Sandy Springs at the Heritage Center, and graduation will be held at the Infinity Center on Sugar Loaf Parkway. So, there is some travel involved for the Simpsons when the child prodigy needs to go places. And, obviously, his parents must drive him.

Chance will attend Point University starting in the fall where he plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in public health, and minor in Biblical studies. After that it’s on to med school to study neurology. And, just think, he’ll be able to drive about the time he completes college.

But not driving doesn’t slow him down. He received a cruise for his senior trip, going to Cozumel and Key West last month. The family has another cruise planned for November.

Mrs. Simpson says Chance is a “good kid” and he beat all the odds. He is well-mannered, and doesn’t talk back, she said, and certainly handles himself well, particularly for an adolescent. And, Chance is not alone, his parents are foster parents so at any time there are a half-dozen other children in the home. He sets a shining example for them, that’s for sure.