What is Online High School Really About?

Online high school sounds like a great opportunity, but many parents and students wonder what it's really all about. Understanding what online high school really means is the first step in the process to making an educational decision for their child.

For many students, a traditional brick and mortar high school simply doesn't cut it. Some students are bullied mercilessly, making it impossible for them to function on their work throughout the day. Others work at an advanced pace, leaving them bored out of their minds. Some students have commitments that are hard to schedule around school days: sports practices, family commitments, or even a work schedule that doesn't sync up with a traditional school schedule. Then there are students who have health issues. Some days, they're perfectly able to participate in normal classroom activities, but others, it's all they can do to get out of bed.

If any of these sound like your student, online high school might be the best choice for you. American school high school opportunities have increased several times over in the last several years, and it's become easier than ever before to find a program that will work for your student. Still, online high schools seem to be shrouded in mystery. What is online high school really about?

Online high schools provide the same quality of education that you'd get in a brick and mortar school.

In fact, in many cases, you'll discover that they get a higher-quality education than they would receive in a brick and mortar school. Online high schools provide your student with all the materials that they would get in a traditional brick and mortar classroom. They have the same opportunities afforded to traditional high school students. The difference is that instead of getting up and going to school every day, students are able to stay home and attend school in their pajamas if they wish.

Online high schools have high-quality teachers.

You aren't taking on traditional homeschooling when you allow your student to attend online high school. You'll have high-quality teachers available to help your child on this educational journey.

Online high school allows you to choose your own schedule.

With online high school, you don't have to worry about whether or not you need to change the time of an appointment because your child has missed too many classes at a specific time. You won't have to worry about getting a reluctant child up at the crack of dawn. Online high school fits into your schedule instead of you being forced to work your schedule around it.

Online high school means that school time is about school.

During a typical school day, there are a host of interruptions. Announcements, bookkeeping, and classroom maintenance all take up a chunk of the school day--and that's on a normal day. Then there are the events that take place during the school day: pep rallies, in-school performances of plays or concerts, fire drills, bomb threats...many days, your student might not accomplish anything academically, and yet if they aren't in class, they're penalized. With online high school, your child is able to spend their school time actually engaged in learning, freeing up the other hours normally spent in school for other activities.

For many students, online high school is an open door that allows them to excel both at school and in other areas of life. If you have more questions, check out our website for more information.

The Benefits of Online Summer School

There are plenty of reasons why you might choose to attend summer school. It might be due to a failed class during the semester, a desire to get ahead, or simply for the opportunity to keep your mental schools sharp through the summer months. Perhaps you missed a class over the course of the semester and need to go back and make it up, or maybe you need something to keep yourself busy over the summer. If any of these sound like you, American High School can help.

Attending summer school can interfere with summer vacations, your ability to get a job, and your plans with your friends. Choosing to attend summer school online, on the other hand, gives you opportunities you haven't considered before.

Scheduling Freedom

When you attend summer school online, you don't have to worry about being stuck in a classroom at a specific time every day. Need to go in to work during what would normally be your class time? Completing classes online allows you to choose your own schedule, shifting it as necessary to meet the demands of your busy schedule.

Controlled Peer Interaction

You don't like everyone who attends your school. Interacting with them in a summer school setting can be awkward and uncomfortable. Online, you have much more controlled interactions with your peers. Class sessions are very short and interaction is overseen by a qualified teacher. This is particularly important to students who have been bullied throughout their school experience. Bullying in online schools is much less common.

Work at Your Pace

You don't work at the same pace as your peers. In a traditional classroom, the teacher has to teach to the middle of the class. That means that if you're more than a few points away from the middle, you constantly either feel as though you're being held back or as though you're struggling to catch up. With online lessons, you can work at your own pace, spending more time on curriculum that you find difficult or demanding and moving on to the next lesson when you're content with what you've accomplished.

Go to School in Your Pajamas

It takes a lot of effort to get ready for school every day. You have to dress according to the dress code and make sure that you've gathered all of your supplies. Online? Show up in your pajamas and grab supplies as needed.