There are many myths associated with online high schools. Belief in such myths often stops parents and students from pursuing online education. It is certainly a huge loss to the students.
Here are the top 10 online high school facts every parent wants to know:
1. Colleges and universities do accept diplomas from accredited online high schools
Most of the top colleges and universities hold online high school diplomas in high regard. However, the diploma, in this case, needs to be regionally accredited. It implies that the diploma should be secured from a regionally accredited online high school. A non-accredited online high school diploma will never be accepted by any college. This is because such a diploma is nearly meritless! Thus, the diploma must come from an online school that has accreditation from the proper regional board. Also, colleges usually accept diplomas from distance learning schools. The acceptance happens in the same manner by which diplomas from traditional schools are accepted. Accreditation is the major factor here.
2. Online High Schools are meant for every kid
There is a common notion that online high school courses mainly cater to the needs of kids who are truly troubled in some manner. While it might hold true in some cases, it might not be the same for every kid! There are certain online programs that exclusively cater to students who have been successful in traditional schools! At the same time, there are other online programs that are meant for those students who are slow learners. There are many other schools targeted towards various groups. Some of the other common groups include gifted students, adult learners, students interested in a particular topic, and people from certain religious backgrounds. In short, online high school can be a one-stop solution for all children.
3. Online high school Classes are as challenging as their traditional counterparts
There are certain online classes that are not as challenging as traditional high school classes. However, some online high school classes are as challenging as traditional high school classes or even more! It is not that easy to secure an online high school diploma, especially when the online high school is regionally accredited. The good thing is that students are free to pick the school and class type. They should choose an online high school program that fits their knowledge and learning objectives.
4. Online private high schools are less expensive than their traditional counterparts
There are certain online high schools that are truly expensive. Most of these are private online schools. However, on the whole, these private online high schools are less expensive than their conventional counterparts. Also, there are many quality schools that have low tuition rates. The good thing is that you can cut down many education-related costs when you are taking high school classes online. Some of these costs include commuting costs, food, accommodation, library fees, textbooks, etc. The Internet makes all important educational resources available free of charge!
5. Online high schools enable their kids to socialize
In an online high school, the ways of socialization are pretty different from that of its traditional counterpart. However, these socialization methods are more effective than those of traditional high schools.
Accredited online high schools provide ample opportunities for students to socialize. Many online high schools enable students to meet through community organizations and participate in outings with other online students. Some of the online schools also provide the opportunity to interact with students and teachers through message boards, email addresses, and live chat. In a traditional high school, online half-hour lunch breaks are given to students to socialize! It is never enough!
6. Online High School students need to work really hard
It is a fact that online students often tend to finish their work faster than traditional students. However, this doesn’t mean they’re doing less. One needs to consider the interruptions in a traditional school day. The common ones include breaks, transition periods, busy work, waiting for other students to catch up, etc. These minute interruptions do not let students focus on their work entirely. This is where online learners score big. They are often able to channel their entire focus on their coursework. Thus, they tend to complete their assignments sooner. However, the amount of work usually varies between online schools. Some days might be more challenging than the rest.
7. Online high school credits are transferable
When the online high school is accredited, the credits are usually able to transfer to a traditional high school. There might be times when credits don’t transfer. However, here the reason is different. It is mainly because the traditional high school has different graduation requirements than the online school. In such cases, the credits do not transfer because the traditional school has nowhere to record them. This very issue can be a problem when students try to transfer credits between two traditional high schools as well.
8. The online high school encourages students to develop multiple skills
There are many online high schools that require that students finish off a physical education requirement if they wish to graduate. Most of the distance learning students participate in community sports teams and other such activities.
9. Online high schools enable students to participate in extracurricular activities
Most of the online students might miss out on prom. However, that does not mean they don’t get to enjoy at all! In fact, this is a very common myth that needs to be debunked! Most of the online high schools have access to interactive and fun activities. There are certain online schools that organize social outings for students. When special permission is provided, most of the traditional high schools allow local students to take part in specific activities along with continuing their studies. Most of the online students get involved in community clubs, volunteerism, etc.
10. Online High Schools are for students of all ages
Accredited online high schools are even open for adults. This includes adults who are seeking to get their high school diplomas online.