Online High School at Your Own Pace

How online high school allows you to learn at your own pace?

An online high school does not have a rigid school year or fixed class times. Online school students have the freedom to devise their very own learning schedule. Since this schedule is a personalized one, it is likely to work well for them as well as their lifestyle. The best part is that online school courses are easily accessible and available all times. This works well for students who have an unconventional schedule.

A good online high school like the Forest Trail Academy allows students to learn at their own pace. This enables students to spend more time in classes they truly find difficult. Also, students have the option of accelerating through these that tend to come more naturally.

In an online school, you can easily work toward your diploma at your very own pace. In an online learning environment, you can pretty much use your own learning style. You are not expected to be bound by the restrictions/expectations in a certain classroom. You are given the liberty to progress at your own pace. This will certainly allow you to enjoy your learning period. Also, in this environment, you do not have to wait long for my feedback. Your instructor will make sure to get back to you as soon as possible.

Could Virtual Learning Be Right For Me?

In the present times, virtual learning is a popular option to go for. In this type of an environment, a major advantage is its flexibility. It provides students the freedom to be able to learn independently. It enables you to customize a curriculum as per your learning styles and objectives.

Every category of student is able to benefit from the experience of online education. In certain situations, online students actually prefer to complete their lessons at night or on weekends. After all, some students do have families or jobs that tend to occupy conventional school hours. In the mean time, some students have the availability to log on with a daily weekday schedule. However, they do not have the option of attending a physical classroom.

Online learning is cheaper as well. Cost can often be a major factor in why some students do not enroll in courses they are truly interested in. Online school courses are highly accessible on smaller budgets. Apart from the convenience and the expense, a good number of students are turning to online learning courses since they have a better way to learn. This set of students who are serious about working on their new learning skills, they are interested to enroll in the type of course they are truly interested in.

Courses offered at online high school

Forest Trail Academy provides highly flexible online courses to students. This set of online courses are usually guided through a structured as well as a flexible procedure according to the personalized needs of students. The online school teachers ensure to offer individual attention to facilitate various students. This way your overall learning potential is enhanced.

A majority of these online school courses are affordable. At Forest Trail Academy, the online courses are cost-effective and well-designed. The teachers are certified and specialized in their specific subjective areas. In addition, they ensure to support your online learning program. Also, they are available 24X7.

The common types of courses offered by online high schools are:

ü      Core and Elective Courses

The core high school courses are required to be completed by high school students. This is compulsory when it comes to securing a high school diploma. The list of core subjects is inclusive of math, English, science and social studies. Most accredited schools provide a wide range of electives in subjects like foreign languages, journalism, art history, digital technology etc.

Dual Enrollment Courses: In some areas, students are provided with the liberty to take college courses and high school classes at the same time. Therefore, they are able to secure high school diploma and college credit simultaneously. This helps them to save money and time.

NCAA-Approved Courses: Most core high school courses are approved by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

     Advanced Placement Courses: The AP courses aim to help students who truly wish to get into college as early as they can in order to enhance their knowledge in a particular subject area.

Flexibility offered by an online high school

Flexible online learning enables for a highly effective development experience. Online school learners can work through online material at their very own pace. They can prepare their own study calendar. Most online courses contain a good variety of learning formats in the form of assignments, video, text, etc. Multimedia learning formats enable online learners to engage with their teachers and peers. This enables them to learn more effectively. Also, they can come together in a group that can serve as a strong tool for learning. In an online high school, students are able to decide their own study time and study space.

Why enrolling with Forest Trail Academy can help you to learn at your own pace?

At Forest Trail Academy school, students are given the liberty to work in different collaborative projects under the guidance of various counselors and teachers. The main aim is to help you create a personalized learning plan. With such a concrete learning plan, students are likely to show a good deal of progress academically as well as personally. 

Since the online courses offered here are highly flexible, students can learn from anywhere at any time. Online classes involve a good deal of student-teacher interaction. In this learning environment, students are guided through the course by the teacher. Students are allowed to take part in various learning activities and assessments. Every online student is assigned college preparatory assignments. Also, they are assessed for every single online school course. In FTA, online students can take an active role in the learning process. They can involve in the discussions with their teachers and peers on a daily basis.

5 Hidden Benefits of Online Homeschooling for High School

It is a fact that the conventional school setting is a good experience for most teenagers. However, this single form of education does not really cater to the various needs of the students. As compared to the highly rigid structure of conventional high school, most students find the freedom and flexibility of the online high school to be a highly motivating experience. However, just like conventional high school, online high schools might not be always perfect for every student. Online high school might not work for everyone. At the time of deciding whether or not to enroll your student in online high school, students are required to weigh various benefits of each option. The child’s unique learning needs are required to be considered.

Online homeschooling allows high school students to learn at their own pace. A major problem with conventional high schools is that these follow the concept of one-size-fits-all. And, this clearly does not work for every high school student. After all, every student is different with different academic needs and learning objectives. There are some traditional high school students who do not feel comfortable with the learning pace that is set by traditional high schools. Some might find this pace to be too slow and too fast. At the same time, there are many students who find themselves left behind. In most online high school programs, students can go ahead and create their own learning pace when working on their learning course work. This can enable them to work faster on various topics and subjects that they are more comfortable with. At the same time, it pretty much enables them to take their time on subjects that they find really hard. It is then that it creates an ideal learning environment for every high school student.

In an online learning environment, students get to create their own schedule. One of the most prominent issues with conventional high school is that it forces many students into a work schedule that might not really work best for them. For some teenagers, it may be fine waking up early. However, for others, they may not be able to focus in the early morning. The online high school enables many students to prepare a schedule that will enable them to study at times that they truly prefer. Moreover, the ability to prepare their own schedule enables students to fit their extracurricular activities, part-time jobs and social events around their specific schedule.

Here are the top 5 hidden benefits of online homeschooling for high school:

Online homeschooling helps kids to focus well
Your teenager might have plenty of problems that might revolve around many things. His grades might suffer. Teachers might call him/her out as a below-average student again and again. In a traditional schooling system, the child’s issues might not be addressed. This might make the child suffer in the long run. The child is likely to feel unmotivated by such a classroom environment.

Thanks to online homeschooling, high school students can manage to limit as well as control numerous distractions that arise in a conventional classroom setting. In an online learning environment, there are no other students who crack jokes or cause distractions. Thus, your child is never bored with a teacher who explains things that are already understood by the child. An online student can easily move through the subject matter he/she finds really comfortable. He/she can also decide to engage online academic help or online tutors for support as required.

Online homeschools provide you with advanced courses
Online homeschooling is highly flexible. High school students need not stop at high school courses. Thanks to online learning, students can also take college courses for credit. A majority of high school students’ parents find that an online homeschooling curriculum enables them to be more involved and allow to manage their child’s time as well as workload. This is a top benefit of online homeschooling.

Online homeschooling enables students to create a custom curriculum
In an online homeschooling environment, the study curriculum can be easily tailored to the child’s needs. Most traditional schools do not have the variety that is craved by the child who truly strives for stimulation. Your child can decide to take breaks as needed in order to lower the level of frustration. Also, if your child has certain specific interests and skills that he/she wants to work on, he/she can do so without getting his/her high school course interrupted. Homeschool high school allows students to juggle both easily. Thus, he/she can have the best of both worlds.

Online homeschooling program enables your child to graduate
Students must look for an accredited institution. This way the child can make sure that the school’s online curriculum caters to various national requirements for graduating. A good high-quality program will enable the child to ensure his/her success by providing a good deal of academic assistance, engaging ebooks, certified teachers, study tips, a proper online community, etc.

Online Homeschooling saves a good deal of time
Thanks to online homeschooling, the dreaded commute can be easily cut down. Students can save a good deal of money and time if they take online homeschooling classes in the high-school phase. Also, online homeschooling allows you and your child to take full advantage of flexible scheduling, self-guided lessons, and automatic grading. This works too well for students who study well in the night hours or go for unconventional study hours.

Online homeschooling provides you with a better learning environment. There are many students who find that online high school students prefer the online learning environment today. It is a fact that most students thrive under the social and communal environment of the conventional school setting. There are some who truly find themselves distracted by their peers. Moreover, there is a category of high school students who suffer from social anxieties. This might be a cause of bullying that is a common phenomenon in traditional high schools. Most students may find their home to be a highly comfortable learning environment.

How to Finish High School Online?

Thanks to the present-day accredited online high schools, you can afford to finish high school online conveniently. You would have to choose a suitable online high school. At the time of making your choice, make sure to look into the accreditation status of the online high school. You must also make sure that your credits would apply to colleges as well as jobs.

What is accreditation?

Accreditation can be defined as the process by which an external organization examines the curriculum, staff, plus learning environment of an academic program. This is to make sure that it caters to some rigorous standards. A good set of criteria needs to be met by the online high school before it receives the tag of accreditation. Every online high school program needs to meet this set of requirements on a daily basis to stay in business.

Achieving your goals through an online high school course

When you have picked an accredited online high school program, you can very well choose to secure credits that suit you on the basis of your learning needs and objectives. You would have to pick online courses that would enable you to meet your postsecondary goals. In certain cases, you might have to complete certain prerequisites to get admitted to an online high school program. It cannot be denied that educational services can be the perfect learning tools for career-driven students.

Most of these online high schools provide you with a pre-designed school curriculum and a team of highly qualified teachers to guide you rightfully. Most of these online high school courses are success-driven and student-friendly. Thus, most online high school students tend to reach their full potential in an online learning environment.

How to succeed in an online high school course?

Stay organized
You must make sure to fix a dedicated learning space for studying. Set a study routine. Your learning space can be an entire room or just a corner of a room. It can even be a library! Make sure to determine the type of environment that would actually work for you. You would have to discover the type of setting that helps you be your best! You would have to make sure that your study time is highly productive. You must have access to high-speed internet access while you study. Else, it can become highly bothersome!

Do prepare a regular learning space. You can also create a home office for the same! Keep your dates, forms, files, forms, and books properly organized. The place must be clean and tidy with proper ventilation! In the least, you must have a comfortable chair and table to maintain the right posture while you study.

Take the course seriously
This goes without saying! Many believe that an online course is extremely easy. Well, it might be convenient relatively, but it does call for discipline and hard work. You would have to work on it regularly. Do not get too comfortable with flexibility. In order to gain online learning success, you would have to take ownership of your online education. Log in daily. Do not procrastinate! Be self-directed at all costs!

Maintain accountability
You can set goals before starting with your online high school course. Make sure to check in with yourself every now and then. In such an online high school environment, you won’t receive any reminders. So, you need to be a self-starter! You would have to make sure that you submit your assignments right on time, before the due date.

In order to maintain accountability, you can even consider pairing up with an online classmate. He/she can be your accountability partner. When you are highly organized and proactive, you are able to avail of most of the benefits of an online high school course.

Cut down distractions
This is a major thing to do if you truly wish to succeed in your online high school course. When it comes to an online high school course, you are sure to face many digital distractions that might deter you to perform well. You would have to make conscious efforts to reduce these distractions. Do set aside time to learn effectively. Maintaining a strong will-power and determination, you would be able to stay ahead of your learning schedule. You would have to come up with a smart strategy to succeed in your online high school course.

You can turn your cell phone off while you study. In the least, keep the notification alert off! You can even go one step further and get a website blocker downloaded. You can use Cold Turkey to cut down your distractions. Keep track of your time.

Make wise use of time
Success in education is all about productivity. You would have to devise your own schedule. This is more important when you are enrolling in an online high school. Without a learning schedule, you might feel directionless since there is no rigid schedule here. Once you prepare the learning schedule, you would have to work hard to stick to it. You can come up with personal deadlines to get all the tasks completed right on time.

You would have to manage your time wisely. Do identify your learning style as well as personality before choosing the online program. Work on your time management skills. Do go through the syllabus right at the start of the semester. Do notice the major assignments. You can mark these on a calendar. Check it daily. Take prior commitments into account.

Make sure to give yourself a good deal of extra time to finish off assignments. If possible, create a weekly schedule. You can designate certain hours every week to read, attend online lectures, work on assignments, take part in forums, etc. Above all, your online coursework must be an integral part of your weekly routine. Make sure to set reminders to complete your online course-related tasks.

You can consider time-blocking. Set a timer to maintain accountability. Monitor yourself. Evaluate your academic and personal progress from time to time. Else, ask your parents to do the same!

Is Online School Right for Advanced Students?

Online schools are meant for every category of students. However, most are of the opinion that only troubled students enroll in online schools. However, in the present times, online school courses have become a superb means to take exclusive courses as well as to supplement a traditional school course.

Why is an online school just right for advanced students?

Early graduation
Online high school students are given the advantage of enrolling in specialized accelerated online high school courses. Through these virtual courses, online high school students can get graduation early on. This is beneficial since these students can jump into a college, university or job of their own choice, early on. It saves their time, money as well as energy. However, not all online students are eligible for these highly rigorous online courses.

In order to apply for these accelerated online high school courses, the student needs to prove that he/she is highly motivated as a learner. Thus, these courses are mostly meant for advanced students. Students who enroll in these courses are enabled to graduate within 3 years or even less. Normally, it takes 4 years for an average high school student to graduate.

Following a fast pace
Now, in a conventional school, there is a generic learning pace. Also, there is a basic learning schedule that needs to be followed by every student in the class. This might hamper the flow of study for many students, especially for those who are academically bright. For them, the common class learning pace is too slow and it gets them bored fast. They are often forced to repeat topics that they already excel in.

An online school helps here. In an online school learning environment, advanced students are enabled to follow their very own learning pace. Thus, they can study at a fast rate and skip topics that seem repetitive. As a result, they get ample time to explore newer topics or topics that truly interest them.

Taking college-preparatory courses
Most of the advanced students want to get prepared for college life, early on. This is made possible by accredited online schools that allow students to take special college-preparatory courses. These courses are highly challenging. So, the students need to be highly diligent and motivated in order to score well in these courses.

These courses do condition students for their upcoming college-work that is of advanced level. Apart from college-preparatory courses, many online schools do provide students with advanced placement courses as well. With these online courses, advanced students are able to prepare well for their upcoming college-level work or job-level work. Also, these courses give an extra edge to their resume. This enables them to get into great colleges and universities. Also, a good resume helps the online student to land a great job.

Taking exclusive courses
Many online schools provide students with some highly exclusive courses. This is where traditional schools lack. Most of the traditional schools provide only a limited set of courses due to budget constraints and location constraints. Since an online school does not involve any geography-related boundaries, it does employ highly qualified teachers from every corner of the world to teach these exclusive courses.

Most of the advanced students have unique interests in academics. This is because they always want to stand out and normal is boring for them! Thus, they specifically look for advanced level and exclusive courses. They know very well that taking exclusively online courses would enable them to be multi-talented and make them resume highly impressive.

Taking multiple electives
Most of the online high schools provide students with a great number of electives. Moreover, online high schools enable students to take as many electives as they want. However, only advanced students can afford to take multiple electives together and work it out well. Therefore, it serves well for academically bright students.

When academically bright students take multiple electives, it adds strength to their resume. They can show that they are pursuing multiple interests and are successful at all of those! It also opens many doors of opportunities for them, career-wise.

No distractions
In a traditional classroom setting, many students are disturbed by certain things like bullying, peer pressure, and even class parties. Of course, it is important to enjoy sometimes, but not at the sake of disrupting the flow of learning. When it comes to academically bright students, they tend to prioritize their learning, no matter what. An online school makes it possible for them to do so.

In an online school environment, there are nearly no distractions. The good thing is that students can learn right from the peace and comfort of their homes. Thus, good students are able to give their undivided attention to their course work. This makes them better at learning, grasping and retaining learnings.

Focusing on personal skills and talents
Now, an online student can afford to finish off his/her daily course early on. This is because there are no distractions in an online learning environment. Thus, students are able to concentrate well on their learning and rev up the process of learning. This leaves them with a good deal of free time. Advanced students would always make it a point to use their free time constructively. Thus, they would use this time to focus on sharpening their skills.

They might even join special clubs or training sessions to hone their skill-set.

Challenging learning environment
An accredited online school always makes sure to provide a challenging study environment for students. Students are required to submit their assignments right before deadlines. Also, there are multiple online tests and collaborative projects where the mettle of the students are tested continually. This is what an advanced student looks for!

Multiple study format
Now, a plain study schedule gets academically bright students highly bored. With an online learning environment, advanced students are able to use multiple study formats such as audio-books, video lessons, powerpoint presentations, etc. Also, they are able to study and have fun at the same time through online debates, online quizzes, and many other such fun-filled online activities.

How Elective Courses Help You Build Your Resume?

At the time of choosing your elective subjects, you need to count in some factors. Keep in mind that the electives you choose can affect your future career largely. Above all, those subjects should make your high school resume look really good! Your resume will serve as a great asset, whether you will try to enter your dream college or get into the workforce.

Keep in mind that colleges and employers mostly look for the same thing: the right attitude and amount of credibility. They need students who will contribute towards making the college or workforce environment richer in some way! In short, they all want candidates who will fit in and do the job well.

There are many reasons why you need to take electives. These expand your knowledge, providing you with a wholesome form of education. Also, you get to check out career fields or subjective areas that truly interest you.

When you complete a class, you get to build a good resume. It is so much more than just a document. It sets the very first impression on your college admissions officers and potential employers. So, you need to choose just the right electives!

Which are the right electives to choose?

• Through your electives, you get to demonstrate that you are willing to go deeper into newer topics. It also proves that you are determined enough to follow your instincts and stick to your learning plans.
• Electives also speak volumes in away. These imply that you can go out of your comfort zone to expand your knowledge. This is an important trait! When you choose courses that are pretty tough, it shows that you are willing to stretch and push yourself.
• The electives you choose show you have a wide range of interests. This certainly makes you appealing and credible as a candidate.
• Keep in mind that only good grades overall are not enough to impress the Admissions officers or employers. You need to prove that you are uniquely capable.

Why are electives so important?

Electives are as important as the core subjects. No doubt these strengthen your resume to a great extent. These not only increase your value as a student but also as a person. When you have more knowledge, you are likely to have an open mind. Also, you get to develop a sense of achievement which makes you happy and confident from within.

You need to keep in mind that everything affects everything! When you go for the right set of electives, it gets easier for you to connect the dots! It gets easier for you to gain insights and knowledge that lies beyond the textbooks. Also, it improves your learning and grasping capacity. It also sharpens your problem-solving skills. These are some skills that stay with you and help you lifelong.

Some of the major online elective courses are Health Sciences, Technology, and computer science, foreign languages, Business, Engineering, etc.

Before choosing your electives, you must check all the available options. After all, it is important for you to show the world a quality resume! With an exclusive set of electives, you can show that you are unique and credible in every possible way. However, take only those subjects that draw your interest or in which you would want to go real deep. So, it is important to identify your likes, preferences, and interests first.

Tips to choose the right set of electives:

Feel free to talk to your Academic Advisor
This is an important step to take before you make this crucial decision. Try to schedule a session with your academic advisor for the same. They have a lot of knowledge and experience. Thus, they can provide you a good deal of info about several degree requirements. They might also make you aware of your major's requirements. They will make sure that you remain on the right track when it comes to selecting course electives. They will give you good pieces of advice and suggestions that are required to make the right choice. They might even help you make some course adjustments if required.

Identify your passions
While choosing online high school electives, make sure to keep your passions in mind. Try not to go for subjects that bore you! Do not go with things just because your friend finds it interesting! Listen to your own inner voice! After all, there is a reason why electives are optional!

Make sure to look into the broad range of elective courses. Enroll in subjects that are connected to your passions. At the same time, these should also help you fulfill your degree requirements simultaneously.

Go for exclusive ones
It is always good to try something new! However, have an idea of what you are getting into! Do not be clueless! Go for a class or subject that is challenging. Make sure to stay motivated throughout high school. If you are self-aware and self-driven, you are likely to develop new talents as well as skills.

Go for the ones that will help you get into your favorite college
You need to be careful at the time of choosing your electives. You need to do your own research when you want to apply to college.

Electives can help you do a lot of things! If you want to satisfy your college’s admission officers, you cannot go with the common set of electives. There are some colleges that want to see that you have studied fine art or something as exclusive!

Focus on showing your skills and talents
Keep in mind that the electives that you choose should go hand in hand with your skills and talents. Through your electives, you should be able to show your interest and skills in that subject. Also, your electives can show that you have various diverse interests. It shows that you can work in a challenging environment.

Aim to boost your resume
Show that you have earned good grades in challenging classes. This will help you a lot!

The Untold Secret to ONLINE HOMESCHOOL in Less Than Ten Minutes

Here are the top secrets to online homeschooling in less than ten minutes:

Interruptions need to be reduced
In the present age, a phone can be a big distraction. At the time of working on your homeschooling course, make sure to switch off your phone.

Consider getting a decent answering machine as well. You can use it at the time when you are learning. You can even consider going for voice mail. You can ask your friends and even family members not to disturb you in your hours of study. That is why it is better if you fix a particular time frame for working on your online homeschooling course. It is only then that your friends and relatives will understand your urgency of learning! Do not go to parties every alternate day! In other words, prioritize your learning. This is the only way to excel in your online homeschooling course.

Parental intervention is required
In the case of traditional homeschooling, parents do need to involve themselves to a great extent. After all, they need to take lots of responsibilities. They need to create a curriculum right from scratch and then stick to it. Not only that, they need to perform the role of teachers.

However, when it comes to online homeschooling, parents can actually shed off a lot of responsibilities. However, still, they need to be involved in some manner in their child’s learning. In the initial stage, their kid might not have the proper sense of responsibility. So, the parent needs to poke his/her child and make sure that he/she is following his/her learning schedule. So, they will have to dedicate some time to their child’s learning. In the least, they will be required to monitor their child’s personal as well as academic progress.

Mix fun with education
One of the biggest advantages of taking online homeschooling classes is that it allows students to learn in a fun manner. This is where traditional school classes lose it! Thus, homeschooling students need to maintain a fun and positive attitude while learning from home. Parents and teachers should make sure that the kids are enjoying the learning process. If not, they should take reasonable steps to ensure the same. After all, a genuine online homeschooling curriculum can be tailored to fit the child’s needs. Little changes can be made to the homeschooling schedule in order to keep the students’ minds stimulated for longer hours.

Parents will have to maintain a positive outlook throughout. Only then students will feel the genuine positivity while learning online from home. Also, parents and teachers should allow students to be open to their concerns and queries. Transparency is the key here!

Trust yourself
Students should be made to believe in themselves. Most of the teachers in online homeschools provide students with instant and honest feedback. In case the child does not perform well in an online activity, the teacher must not be harsh and pinpoint only at the negativities. Same applies to homeschool parents. They should all give genuine feedback but from a positive space. They should give room to the students to improve and work on their shortcomings.

Parents might incorporate tutoring assistance if required. They should try every possible means to make sure that the child remains confident, driven and success-driven. Most of the online homeschooling teachers are given the same training. They are specially trained to instill necessary values and life-skills in online homeschoolers that are required to succeed.

Keep it systematic and simple
The organization is the key to success in online homeschooling. If you are a homeschooling parent, you should not be fickle-minded. Do not change the learning schedule every day! Change it, only if necessary and only if it works for your kid. You need to be systematic and organized. You can even plan to gift your kids with small rewards if they achieve some minor goals related to academics. Do not go too harsh on them. Keep it simple and fun! Else, it will be no better than rigid traditional school classes!

Take short breaks
Breaks are truly important while learning. When you are a homeschooler, you must take out some time to rejuvenate your mind and body. If you wish, take breaks frequently. You can even keep some healthy snacks in your room while studying. Drink ample water in breaks. In short, keep yourself healthy!

If you are getting too clogged up in your mind, you can even take one or two days’ break. You can arrange for a short trip with your friends or family members. Focus on socializing effectively during the time. Never get yourself isolated. Do your work and maintain healthy bonds at the same time. Yes, you can do it!

Do not overdo it
Certainly, it is good to go on field trips and social outings. However, do not overdo it. Maintain a proper balance. Too many outings can ruin it all! Again, focus on your priorities. Spend free time with your family, but not at the cost of your learning! Thus, you need to strike a healthy balance here.

Talk to your mentors
It is important to surround yourself with people who motivate you if you truly wish to succeed in the long run. Socialize online. Make friends with students and seniors who have similar goals and mindset. It will help you to walk on the right path. Whenever necessary, ask questions. Make sure to ask for helpful advice, whenever needed. Just do not try to deal with everything, alone. Talk and open up to others, at least people who you can rely on. You can even go through some home education books. This is sure to boost your confidence, providing you with the right tricks and tips to proceed in your study life.

Visit the library
Of course, you can get everything online. But, there are times when you might just get a little bored of the same study space. This is when you can go to a different place to study. What better place than a quiet library?

Why Parents Shouldn't Be Afraid of Virtual High School?

Even today, there are many parents who are literally scared of online courses for their kids! One major reason is that most of them are misinformed about online education. Some have false notions related to online learning.

Here are some top reasons why parents are afraid of virtual high school and why should they not be afraid:

Online high school course is easier than a traditional high school course
This is a myth altogether. Most of the genuine and accredited online schools make sure to provide challenging online courses. These online courses are highly engaging. Thus, students take a genuine interest in their studies. This helps them finish off their daily online course work in a short time when compared to that of a traditional school student. The other major reason behind this is that the online learning environment is devoid of distractions. Thus, students benefit here since they get a lot of time to work on their own skills.

Online high school courses are unaccredited
There certainly are some online schools that are not accredited. However, most of the genuine online schools are regionally accredited. You will have to do your own research. Try to know the accreditation status of the online school, first and foremost.

When an online high school course is regionally accredited, it implies that the online high school coursemeets the same high standards as on-ground courses. This is required to remain certified and hold the accreditation status.

Employers and Colleges do not accept online high school diploma
This is completely false. When an online high school diploma is regionally accredited, employers and college admission officers hold it in high regard. They surely do accept online high school diplomas, but only those that are regionally accredited.

In fact, many employers recognize that students gain excellent skills through virtual learning. Some of the vital life-skills gained through online learning are time-management, self-motivation, self-discipline, family values, sense of balance, etc.

No proper teacher-student communication
Since online learning involves no face-to-face communication, many parents are of the opinion that it might be a big challenge for an online student. However, it is not so! Students can easily talk to their certified teachers via email, Skype, or chat. Most of the online high school courses include group projects. Thus, even the shy and reticent students get to speak up in a traditional classroom setting. Thus, they readily take part in online discussions, without the fear of getting laughed at! This type of communication and a healthy exchange of ideas also lead to a strong sense of community. Most of the online schools make sure to create an active online community, with extracurricular activities.

Cheating is common at an online high school
The truth is that cheating can happen at any place, whether online or a physical space. However, in an online school, certified teachers know how to take steps to prevent cheating. Many software programs are developed that help recognizes plagiarism.

Online schools make students socially awkward
This is one big myth related to online schools. It is true that the ways of socialization are different in the virtual learning environment. However, these ways are pretty effective that lead to meaningful socialization, in usual. The good thing is that in an online environment, the student has the liberty to choose his/her friends or the one he/she wishes to socialize with. There is no forced socialization here.

Virtual schools are highly technology-driven
It might be true to some extent. However, it does not mean that an online student is required to be technically expert in order to succeed in his/her online high school course. To speak the truth, virtual schools are about curriculum and instruction for students. Most of the virtual high schools have the basic technology to enable students to join a virtual classroom, especially where there’s proper internet access. However, students will have to take the online curriculum and instruction very seriously. They should know the basics of technology. As such, basic technical skills are required everywhere today. So, it is not too big of a demand!

Virtual school students get addicted to their screens
It is a common concern. Now, online high schools provide a lot of flexibility. With this level of flexibility comes a good deal of responsibilities as well. So, students need to put limits on certain things. Parents must make sure that their kids are making limited use of social networking sites or other entertainment-related sites.

Also, many online students actually use textbooks, pencils, microscopes, and interactive curricula to study. In an online learning environment, a computer is a tool for teachers and parents to manage and track assignments. Also, it enables students to communicate and deliver interactive curricular materials. However, students can also complete some assignments off-screen. They can also spend their free time reading textbooks, using workbooks, reading library books and other things. Thus, students and parents need to work it out this way.

Parents need to teach and take a lot of responsibilities
Any online learning mode calls for some parental intervention. However, it might just be little! Most of the online high schools today come with a full-set of certified and qualified online teachers and other resources. They are sufficient to help your high-school kid learn in the most effective manner. Being parents, you would, at least, be required to monitor your child’s progress and attendance. Surely, you would be required to do the same when your child takes conventional high-school classes.

However, parents must do their homework before choosing an online high school for their kids. Not every online high school is credible! There are many fraudulent schools today. So, parents must be vigilant.

Make sure to look for a virtual school that has a track record of delivering student academic achievement. It must have good levels of parent and student satisfaction. Some of the other vital quality benchmarks include accreditation from AdvancED, highly qualified teachers, cutting-edge technology resources, networking opportunities, community activities, extracurricular activities, field trips for students, volunteering opportunities, early graduation courses, etc.