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One year ago, Brailena Caywood didn’t know that enrolling in Cedar Hill ISD’s Hilltop Academy would steer her toward the path of attending medical school.

“I want to be able to help people,” Caywood said.

Caywood moved to Cedar Hill from southern California two years ago. She liked the friendliness and overall atmosphere of Cedar Hill High School, but she began skipping classes and accumulating absences.

Before the start of her junior year, a recommendation was made for her to attend Hilltop Academy – a specialized learning program for CHISD students who are behind on credits or have faced disciplinary issues.

“At first, I didn’t want to go to Hilltop or to leave my friends,” Caywood said. “I soon knew it was the best thing for me.”

As a result of the online classes and small class sizes, Caywood – originally a member of the Class of 2026 – is graduating from high school about 10 months earlier than expected.

She essentially completed two years of high school in one and will be part of the Cedar Hill ISD Summer Graduation Ceremony on Friday, August 1. In fact, Caywood will earn her high school diploma about three weeks before her 17^th birthday.

Caywood’s mother, Alexis, remembers seeing her daughter working diligently on homework at “all types of hours.”

Caywood said she was especially appreciative of her Hilltop teacher, Sheryl Moore, who provided an excellent learning atmosphere.

“Ms. Moore is so comforting, and the class was very supportive,” Caywood said. “She takes time with all of her students, which is great.”

Caywood plans to take a break this semester after a whirlwind two years in which she worked non-stop to earn her diploma. After that, she’s thinking about Texas Christian University followed by medical school.

“If students are assigned to Hilltop Academy, I’d tell them to pay attention to themselves and to work on themselves and what they’re doing,” Caywood said.