Hello, I recently did a post asking for pros and cons and people’s experience with online high school. I now would like to find the right one. I guess I will tell you guys a little about myself and what I’m specifically interested in.
My situation: I have pretty bad social anxiety, especially around people of authority (teachers). In addition, I would like more personalized education where I can teach myself but also get private help when needed. I’m always really stressed and tired and only get about 5 hours of sleep a night because I work really slowly. My goal is a 4.0, I try to be a high achiever, but my health, including my anxiety, feels like it’s deteriorating with the schedule I am on. I would like to spend less time on required academics than an average of twelve hours a day on school and homework and studying, and more time on activities I am interested in and studying subjects that I actually enjoy in as extracurriculars. In addition, I am working on my non-profit and would like to pursue my passions more in high school, but I do not have the time to do so right now. In addition, I am often really scared to go after my goals while at school or to talk about them because again, social axiety. I apologize if I sound really self-pitying, that was no tmy intention. Thanks!
Here are my questions now:
A) First of all, I would like an accredited program that provides a better education than an average and above average public
high school. The courses should be rigorous, but also provide me with the tools and help to succeed. What is the rigor of the program, and how is it executed (like do you write essays, take tests, do projects, etc.)
B) A flexible program would be best for me because I am very busy and would like increased flexibility. The school and academics should preferably take less than 8 hours to complete, but I am open to more options. I would like a school that is year round, that does not have deadlines and has full flexibility. I’m fine with online education, though I was wondering if there were any schools besides Oak Meadow that provided textbooks.
b1. Also, could someone please explain to me the different curriculums within Laurel Springs and International Virtual Academy? Thanks!
C) A factor that is extremely important is the personalization. Is the school small enough to accommodate my academics? Are the teachers willing to work with you on a regular basis if you need help? Does the school accommodate your learning style and set you up to succeed and do well (I’m not saying just giving you As, I mean to give you the resources to get the help you need)? How close are you able to connect with the teachers? And if I wanted to do an English paper on a topic of my choice, would that be a possibility?
D) The teachers. How credible are they? How many students do they manage? How good is their responsiveness and what are their hours? What is their average education level? How interactive are they with students and (again) personalized?
E) The student body. What is it like? Is there an international population, and what are the school clubs like? Is it easy to make friends? I have social anxiety, but I really do like to meet people if I’m comfortable with them first. (I know, it’s weird. I like people, just not interacting with them in person for some reason.)
F) If you go to an online school, how and why did you choose the one you did? How do they compare to others (this one is important)? Can you tell me more about your experience, and if possible in relation to other schools?
G) What is the curriculum like? See b1 above, but also for all the schools, and how are they different/compare with each other? How are classes structured? Are they traditional, personalized, and do you read material of a computer screen, answer some questions, and then take a quiz? Or is it different?
H) Please give your input on these schools I’m considering. Christa McAuliffe and Laurel Springs were most responsive to my emails, and then IVLA and Oak Meadow:
- Laurel Springs
- Oak Meadow
- Christa McAuliffe School of Arts and Sciences
- Clonlara School
- Global Village School
- Indiana University OHS
- Texas U OHS
- George Washington U OHS
- Mizzou K-12
- Wilostar K-12
- International Virtual Learning Academy
- Connections Academy
- Mother of Divine Grace
I am open to any other suggestions you have.Thank you for your help, and I hope to hear from you soon!