Accredited Online High School for Your Child

Forest Trail Academy is one of the leading online high schools in USA. We offer online school courses in various subjects for students from Kindergarten through 12^th grade. At Forest Trail Academy, we pride ourselves in the knowledge we impart to our students and the methodology used in imparting that knowledge.

 
Online education is fast gaining ground as the preferred mode of learning. The number of high schools offering online school courses has soared in the past few years. Why? Clearly because of all the advantages an online learning environment offers over traditional schooling methods. No more crowded classrooms, no more boring lectures, a much better teacher-to-student ratio and the flexibility to learn at your own pace.

At Forest Trail Academy, we offer accredited online k-12 courses for all grades - Kindergarten through High School. Our teaching methods offer you everything a traditional school does – teachers, projects, homework, class discussions as well as tests to evaluate and monitor your child’s progress. We offer your child an encouraging environment to learn and develop skills that will be vital in school as well as at the workplace.

Homeschooling v/s Classroom Teaching

It’s no secret that students often find it hard to concentrate in a classroom based environment. Distractions are a common occurrence. Even parents complain about the low teacher-to-student ratio. This is where online homeschooling scores over the classroom. Students are free to apply for a varied number of courses as per their preference, and can study the subject material at their own pace.

It encourages a wholesome understanding of the subject and encourages children to focus on learning rather than just grades. Also, Tour teachers offer your child the dedicated attention that is needed, which can only be achieved through online learning. Our teachers are well qualified and are always available to help students overcome challenges they face.

Forest Trail Academy also offers you the freedom to express your opinion freely without the possibility of being ridiculed openly. This encourages individual thought and does not force children to conform to just one line of thinking. At Forest Trail Academy, we encourage our students to think independently and foster a sense of confidence that enforces lifelong learning.

Know More About Accredited K-12 Courses: 

• Online Elementary School Courses

• Online Middle School Courses

• Online High School Courses

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.