Why Parents Shouldn't Be Afraid of Virtual Online High School for Their Kids?

There might be a handful of reasons why you might be skeptical of a virtual school for your child.However, on the contrary it has been seen that a virtual high school is a pretty good idea after all.

Here are some very common myths related to a virtual high school and which need to be debunked:

·         Online schools are easier than traditional schooling

Most of the instructors come up with highly-engaging ways to present the study material. Thus, it gets easier for students to hone their learning skills, gaining considerable self-discipline in course of time.This certainly does not imply that an online course is easier! It is just that online students get the chance and drive to channelize their focus entirely on their studies. Thus, online schooling is no easy on its own. It gets easy when you are diligent and serious enough!

·         Online courses are not accredited

Many parents have a misconception that online courses are anything but accredited! This is simply untrue. Just like traditional schools, there are some online schools too that are not accredited. Online high school courses need to meet the same high standards as on-ground courses in order to be certified. Almost all of the topmost online high schools are nationally and regionally accredited. You just need to be cautious at the time of making the selection for your online school.

·         A high school diploma is seldom recognized by colleges and employers

Many think that a high school diploma is never accepted by the top universities and employers. This is false. When an online diploma is accredited, it is always well-regarded. There might be some employers who need to be educated about online schools. However, there are many who instantly recognize that the skills students gain through virtual learning, such as time-management, are top-level in the workplace. In fact, in today’s times, an online degree can give you an edge. Almost all the colleges accept diplomas from accredited online high schools.

·         Online schools make children socially awkward

Well, this is nothing but a myth! Students get to talk to their online teachers via email, Skype, or chat. Most of the virtual high school courses include group projects.  It works wonders for all the shy introverts. These are the ones who feel shy about speaking up in a traditional classroom setting. They may have an easier time participating in online discussions.

Most of the accredited online schools make sure to provide a strong sense of community through active online community. They incorporate extracurricular activities that are fun yet educative.

In a genuine online school, students regularly socialize and interact with peers. The patterns of socialization for virtual learners are not so different from those students in a traditional school. Virtual students even are given the chance to go on field trips, and also socialize with adults in their schools, at home, and in the community.

The flexibility allowed by the virtual schools allows students to socialize outside. They actually get a good deal of free time to do so. After all, most of the online students get to finish their online work fast when compared to the traditional schools.

·         Online students spend all of their time in front of a computer

In case of any online school, the computer is a tool for teachers and parents. It is required to manage and track assignments, communicate, and deliver interactive curricular materials. However, it is a fact that students complete many assignments offline. They often spend time reading textbooks, using workbooks, reading library books, and doing hands-on science experiments in their down time period. This is just like they would in a traditional school.

·         Cheating is likely to occur at a Virtual High School

It is a fact that cheating can happen anywhere. However, certified teachers know how to keep two steps ahead of students who try to violate the honor system. This includes software programs that help recognize plagiarism.

·         Online learning is not led by teachers

The accredited online high school courses are usually led by certified teachers.In fact, parental involvement is not even required in most of the cases. Thus, online teachers are heavily involved in online courses. 

However, many report that they know their students better online than in a traditional classroom setting. Accredited online schools make sure to employ highly-qualified teachers. They are provided with special training as to how to deal with handling of a virtual classroom. They are trained to pay special heed to tailoring instruction to match students’ needs and learning styles.

In case of home-based virtual learning, students are mostly under the guidance of a certified teacher. A parent or other trusted adult has the opportunity to serve as a Learning Coach as well. They might decide to assist the child with day-to-day learning activities as needed.

Many online schools strive to provide a peaceful and nurturing environment where the teacher works directly with both the student and Learning Coach to develop an individual learning plan for the child.

·         An online student needs to be technically efficient

Well, it is true that an online student needs to be aware of the various online tools and resources in order to gain knowledge and work smoothly on their courses. But, just knowing the basics is all it needs. And the child need not be a pro right from the day one. Online schooling gives a good deal of time to every student to cope up and then take up speed.

Most importantly, most of the reputable virtual schools also take the curriculum and instruction very seriously for students, apart from the technology!

At the time of choosing a virtual school, look for a virtual school with a track record of delivering student academic achievement and high levels of parent and student satisfaction. Of course look for the accreditation from AdvancED, the faculty background, state-of-the-art technology resources and community activities, extracurricular activities, curriculum designs, customizability etc.

Credit Recovery Courses to Get Students Back On Track

Are you a grade level behind?

Looking for a school to earn your lost credits!!! You are at a right place. Online School helps you out in earning the lost credits and gets you back on track. Read below how credit recovery courses help academic drop outs who are falling a grade level behind.

Credit Recovery has been gaining a lot of importance of late primarily due to the increasing dropout rate in the United Sates. There may be several reasons for students falling behind such as falling short of the required credits due to excessive absence, inability to keep pace with the entire class or various other factors. In such cases, students miss out on their graduation because of inadequate credits.

The good news is that students no longer need to be worried about this. With online schools in the United States now offering access to courses online, students everywhere can now enroll and complete their courses at their own convenience. In this manner, they can earn the required credits to complete their graduation.

In keeping with the objectives of the No Child Left Behind Act, Forest Trail Academy offers you Credit Recovery courses online to help you graduate. We believe everyone deserves a second chance, which is why we offer you the option of either completing your courses online or via correspondence. Forest Trail Academy is registered with the Florida Department of Education and is fully accredited by the MSA-CESS and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Accreditation programs and School Improvement (SACS CASI).

Being accredited by globally renowned organizations allows our students to transfer credits to other schools and colleges in America. Our degrees and diplomas are accepted by other schools, colleges, universities, governments and employers too.

We also have a 2-month Summer School program that allows students to get back on track. By applying for additional courses and electives, you can now pursue additional diplomas and degrees while continuing your regular schooling via conventional schooling methods.

In this manner, not only can you get a jump start on college but you can also make up for lost credits and lost opportunities. Additionally, studying online also provides you with the freedom to explore other courses without hampering your regular schooling.

Being able to study online allows you to enjoy several benefits that conventional schools cannot provide. You have complete control over your study schedule and can set the pace of learning according to your own capabilities. Moreover, studying in an environment that is conducive to your progress and free from distractions will enable you to learn better and explore your course material in a much better manner.

Not only is learning online a much more feasible and convenient option but it is also an economically viable option. For most, conventional education costs seem to be pushing a good education out of their reach. With schools such as Forest Trail Academy, you can access high quality education from the comfort of your own home. We have even launched an online demo application that allows you to evaluate firsthand the nuances of the platform we offer you so that you know just how easy it can get.

If you have any questions about our programs or would like additional information on the online credit recovery courses we offer you, please feel free to get in touch with us. We’d love to hear from you.


Know More About Accredited K-12 Courses:
Online Elementary School Courses
Online Middle School Courses
Online Diploma Courses
Online High School Courses

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!