Online schools for nontraditional high schoolers

<p>We know many, many kids (including several professional performers) that took/take this route. We researched the options a couple years ago and there are many varieties in our area. Several school districts have them. There are many online charters. Some are almost all online. Some offer an optional classroom environment. Some are directed by student and parent. Others have a teacher still managing the process. My son did a few years of math online within a traditional school classroom. Lots of ways to use it.</p>

<p>Honestly, if she’s serious about her studies though, I would go with traditional homeschooling curriculum and supplement with a few online courses here and there. There are some issues that pop-up with online schooling. Retention can be a problem for many kids. The transition back into a traditional college classroom has been rough for kids we know that were acing virtual high school. Many felt they didn’t have the foundation they needed. Kids that do a more hybrid approach seemed to fair much better than those that go straight to virtual school. Another option is for her to supplement the online learning with community college classes where there is less classroom time and she could work classes around her dance schedule. My own child performer did almost everything at the community college junior and senior year (but through a middle college program… not with online learning.)</p>

<p>Of course, it all depends on the kid. Many virtual schoolers we know are there because they don’t like school or struggling with personal or social issues. A kid who is highly motivated and an assertive learner will be fine.</p>

<p>I know admissions has been tricky if the child was looking at a highly selective school. The kids we know doing online tend to go the community college or state university route or they audition into BFA programs for which their academic history means little to admissions. </p>