Online High Schools - Are They Right For You?

While a great number of parents are familiar with the option of home schooling their children, many are unaware of the concept of online high schools. A child that attends a high school associated with the Internet may complete some or all of their high school education by way of the World Wide Web. Depending on the situation and type of education sought, a student may take advantage of online private and charter schools. When pursuing this method of education, a range of benefits and drawbacks exist for students that take part on an individual basis. Today, the prospect of receiving a high school diploma on the Internet is becoming an increasingly acceptable idea in society. Ultimately, the decision to attend an online high school is quite important, as there are various pros and cons that could affect the development of a student. Online High School Advantages One of the main advantages of online high schools is that students are able to work at their own pace without the distractions of classmates, who may hinder their progress. Some students are unable to grasp material when situated in a rowdy classroom filled with the latest gossip and unruly interruptions. Online high schools allow learners to grasp material and study assignments wherever and whenever it is convenient. This means the student that is more alert in the evening can take advantage of this time for their studies. Some students enjoy the benefits of online high schools because they face the possibility of graduating earlier than when attending traditional means of education. Students with great self-discipline and ability are often able to achieve this objective. Those who wish to work while they learn are able to better juggle their schooling in regards to their employment schedule. Parents tend to warm up to the idea of online high schools because they wish to spare their children from the influential decision-making that occurs within popular cliques, clubs, and listless peers. Online high schools create an environment where students are able to concentrate on their studies instead of batting their eyelashes at a crush or worrying about joining the kids sitting at the "popular" lunch table. Online High School Disadvantages While some students thrive in a learning environment free of distractions, others feel trapped with the isolation of attending an online high school. Socialization plays an important role in a blossoming teenager, where most of this transformation typically takes place within the school setting. Additionally, all of the coming-of-age events attached to attending secondary school are not an option for online high school students, including senior picture day, formal dances, prom, and walking the stage on graduation day. As a result, it is important for parents to make sure their children do not develop any anti-social behavior. Online learners often interact with other students using chatrooms and forums associated with their school. They also meet friends after their studies and on the weekends. Some online high school students also lack the motivation to complete their studies and may daydream at the computer. This is a result of not having a physical teacher looking over their shoulder, urging them to complete their assignments. The absence of daily encouragement will affect some students more than others. Teachers are also beacons of light when it comes to explaining algebra or a passage of Shakespeare. Some subjects are clearly harder to comprehend without the guidance of an actual professor. College-bound online students must also select a school that produces accredited transcripts that are accepted by universities and other institutions of higher learning. This means some parents may have to pay hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars in tuition costs, computer equipment, and on the curriculum. What to Expect As you mull over the thought of online high schools, you should familiarize yourself with what to expect in regards to the overall process. For starters, the computer is a very important part of the process because without it – there is no learning. Typical system requirements for the average online high school includes Pentium III processor, Windows XP Pro (preferred), Windows 2000, Windows ME, or WIN 98 Second Edition Operating System, 256 MB of memory, 200 MB of Hard disk space, 800 x 600 or higher resolution monitor, 16-bit color, CD-ROM drive, and a 10/100 MHz Ethernet network interface card. Next, the Internet connection becomes the second most important part of online high schooling. While access to DSL or Broadband Internet is preferred, it is not a requirement, as dial-up works just fine. Most online schoolwork focuses on a curriculum laid out on a CD-Rom. Students complete assignments on their computer and then upload the information to the school's office, which is then checked by teachers, who then writes back to students. When completing their work, students may question the material and seek help from teachers usually through an email messaging system. The average curriculum is created for one hour per day of each subject for 180 days. In many cases, the completion of English seems to take much longer due to the amount of written work involved. While most of the curriculum is completed on the computer, there are a few exceptions. For example, college-bound students must take a science (Biology, Physics, or Chemistry) and some outside literature books are included in some classes. Minimal equipment is expected of students taking science classes. Upon completing online high schooling, a diploma is often granted and issued once completing proficiency tests in applicable subjects. Depending on the institution, many colleges, universities, and other after-high school opportunities accept online high school diplomas. The majority of online schools produce transcripts, which highlight the subject, grade, and year each course was taken. Various online schools also give credit for work experience (paid or volunteer). Participating in sports often fulfills a PE requirement and music is frequently rewarded a fine arts credit. As for the cost of online high schools, they will vary according to institution, type of school, and grade. An example of overall fees may include: an enrollment fee (around $150), senior graduation fees (around $50), yearly tuition of five subjects (on the average of $1200), and a la carte classes (around $300 each). It is also not uncommon to see online high schools offer discounts and credits for the attendance of more than one child or paying the yearly tuition by a specific date.