Online Schooling Options for High Achieving High School Students

[NavyHopefulMom2027]

Hi brilliant forum members. I am throwing this out to this group because you all are or have raised talented kiddos and I am hoping someone might be able to help.

I am being the process of looking for an online school option for my current sophomore. He is likely going to make the switch to the elite level of training in his sport this summer and will be unable to do traditional school for his junior (and possibly senior year). We are looking for an academically challenging on-line school program. He currently takes AP classes and has taken 2 dual enrollment engineering classes at the local community college. We are hoping to find a program that will offer similar options. He was planning on pursing the IB diploma next year, so a bonus if that is an option too.

 

[THmom]

I did a version of this for my skier DS. I mixed classes he could schedule at the high school with online college classes. It worked well. If thats not an option for you, I’d do all DC online. I don’t think there‘s an IB online and as a former AP teacher and “reader” for the CB, I’d say a lot of APs would be difficult to successfully navigate online. Pick and choose?

 

[Wahoo Fan]

I recommend researching on the Well Trained Mind forums (in the high school section). That resource is what I used to put together my homeschool curriculum. There are many people on that forum who have similar goals as you. I don’t think you will find what you are looking for here in the Academies forums.

Here is one place to start reading:

HIGH SCHOOL MOTHERLODE #1 -- links to past threads on: Getting Started, Resources, Schedules, Tests, etc.

PAGE #1Welcome to High School Motherlode #1 -- the first "motherlode" of linked threads on high school topics. There is also a college motherlode of linked threads on preparing for/applying to/attending college AND a few post-high school topics that are NOT college related. Enjoy exploring the am...

forums.welltrainedmind.com

 

[NavyHopefulMom2027]

I did a version of this for my skier DS. I mixed classes he could schedule at the high school with online college classes. It worked well. If thats not an option for you, I’d do all DC online. I don’t think there‘s an IB online and as a former AP teacher and “reader” for the CB, I’d say a lot of APs would be difficult to successfully navigate online. Pick and choose?

Thanks, unfortunately our local high school (which we love) is all or nothing. He can't enroll in just a class or two. (and practices are all day every day so that wouldn't really work anyway if it was an option.) I would be fine with dual credit courses. I am just completely unaware of how to translate that to a high school diploma. Did your son "graduate" from his local high school?

He is one of five kids and I work full-time so I definitely am trying to find something that is the least cumbersome to manage for me but is also still challenging academically for him.

 

[NavyHopefulMom2027]

I recommend researching on the Well Trained Mind forums (in the high school section). That resource is what I used to put together my homeschool curriculum. There are many people on that forum who have similar goals as you. I don’t think you will find what you are looking for here in the Academies forums.

Here is one place to start reading:

HIGH SCHOOL MOTHERLODE #1 -- links to past threads on: Getting Started, Resources, Schedules, Tests, etc.

PAGE #1Welcome to High School Motherlode #1 -- the first "motherlode" of linked threads on high school topics. There is also a college motherlode of linked threads on preparing for/applying to/attending college AND a few post-high school topics that are NOT college related. Enjoy exploring the am...

forums.welltrainedmind.com

Thanks for the info. I will definitely dive into this.

 

[Iwutke]

Start with his upcoming elite coach. If they have the experience / credentials that you think they have, then they have been through this before. If they don’t know how to help you, that should raise a red flag.

 

[NavyHopefulMom2027]

Start with his upcoming elite coach. If they have the experience / credentials that you think they have, then they have been through this before. If they don’t know how to help you, that should raise a red flag.

It's a nationally known program, former Olympic coach, ect. no worries there. There are plenty of kids in the club program that just enroll in "xyz online academy" They are probably going to whatever college they want as a recruited athlete. They are just

The uniqueness of my DS's situation is that he probably isn't going to be an Olympian . But he definitely has high-level D1 potential in the sport but he is also super smart and wants to go into Aerospace Engineering. He doesn't want to just enroll in easy online classes to rack up the credits he needs to graduate. Also, if he gets to the level he needs to be at to be recruited as a junior then he will possibly go back to traditional school/practice for his senior year so he needs his junior year classes to be comparable to what his in-school schedule would be.

But thanks for the concern and advice.

 

[THmom]

Thanks, unfortunately our local high school (which we love) is all or nothing. He can't enroll in just a class or two. (and practices are all day every day so that wouldn't really work anyway if it was an option.) I would be fine with dual credit courses. I am just completely unaware of how to translate that to a high school diploma. Did your son "graduate" from his local high school?

He is one of five kids and I work full-time so I definitely am trying to find something that is the least cumbersome to manage for me but is also still challenging academically for him.

Yes, he graduated from our local public school. When kids ate dual enrollment/credit, it means just that: the college courses counted for high school AND gave college credit, so he was still technically enrolled full time. Each college semester class counts as a full year of high school. Contact your school’s counselor. I’d be shocked if they don’t have some kind of policy.

 

[NavyHopefulMom2027]

Yes, he graduated from our local public school. When kids ate dual enrollment/credit, it means just that: the college courses counted for high school AND gave college credit, so he was still technically enrolled full time. Each college semester class counts as a full year of high school. Contact your school’s counselor. I’d be shocked if they don’t have some kind of policy.

They don't. They offer dual credit classes but they are taken in the high school. It's a huge high school. Lots of opportunities, but it's either all-in or nothing. (They don't even allow homeschool or online students to participate in athletics/extra-curriculars). I am definitely going to meet with the counseling department but I am trying to put together some idea of what we are planning on doing so I am prepared when I meet with them. I am definitely not an educator so this is so far out of my comfort zone. Fortuitously, he just received an email today from a state university that has a "Fast Start" program that he is being invited to participate in. Looks similar to dual credit but it's online. So maybe that will be a possibility to fill in some of the classes he will need. We will definitely look into that. Thanks for "listening" and offering some suggestions. Feels like swimming in murky water right now.

 

[THmom]

They don't. They offer dual credit classes but they are taken in the high school. It's a huge high school. Lots of opportunities, but it's either all-in or nothing. (They don't even allow homeschool or online students to participate in athletics/extra-curriculars). I am definitely going to meet with the counseling department but I am trying to put together some idea of what we are planning on doing so I am prepared when I meet with them. I am definitely not an educator so this is so far out of my comfort zone. Fortuitously, he just received an email today from a state university that has a "Fast Start" program that he is being invited to participate in. Looks similar to dual credit but it's online. So maybe that will be a possibility to fill in some of the classes he will need. We will definitely look into that. Thanks for "listening" and offering some suggestions. Feels like swimming in murky water right now.

Fast Start sounds perfect! Keep us posted!

 

[Wahoo Fan]

Another thought—
It is easy to withdraw from high school to do homeschool/online school.

It is a very different matter to do part homeschool/online high school and then enter or return to public high school. (Shifting from homeschool high school to private high school may be easier, depending on the school). The reason is that public schools often do not accept homeschool or online classes. If you find an accredited online high school program for him, then that would probably be an easier transition back since it would be “accredited” and probably regarded as acceptable.

Definitely discuss this with the counseling department as you said—specifically how his credits that he will be taking in this online program will count if he is going to try to reenroll. I say this because I know lot of people who have run into big problems trying to put their kids back into high school.

 

[NavyHopefulMom2027]

Another thought—
It is easy to withdraw from high school to do homeschool/online school.

It is a very different matter to do part homeschool/online high school and then enter or return to public high school. (Shifting from homeschool high school to private high school may be easier, depending on the school). The reason is that public schools often do not accept homeschool or online classes. If you find an accredited online high school program for him, then that would probably be an easier transition back since it would be “accredited” and probably regarded as acceptable.

Definitely discuss this with the counseling department as you said—specifically how his credits that he will be taking in this online program will count if he is going to try to reenroll. I say this because I know lot of people who have run into big problems trying to put their kids back into high school.

Yes, that is my biggest concern. I don’t really want to be his teacher/administrator of record. I know there are a lot of great homeschooling parents but I know that is not my strength. I would love to find an accredited virtual school, it’s just tough to figure out where to start. And also it has to be flexible enough to work independently, like he can’t be going to zoom classes at specific times. I guess I will probably start with his high school and see what’s acceptable to transfer back in with them and then go from that angle.