Transitioning from grade school to middle school or middle school to high school can be a time of tremendous anxiety for your child. Whereas their elementary school was small, their middle school could have hundreds more students. And when it’s time to leave there, they may find themselves in a 2000-student high school.
Was last year less than stellar for your middle or high school student? Are they already dreading the start of another school year? Perhaps a change of venue is in order. Simply switching schools may not address their challenges, but switching to online school has brought a huge sigh of relief to many students struggling with school – or the idea of going to school.
You have to take a certain number of electives in high school, so why not make the most of them? The electives you choose can help you build a stronger high school resume, whether you’re off to college or off to work after graduation.
The flexible, self-controlled nature of online study fosters an environment in which high school students can learn and hone essential life skills that build strength of character – self-motivation, self-discipline and determination -- right along with pursuing their academic studies.
When the traditional American school schedule breaks stride for summer vacation, students stumble. Numerous studies conducted over the course of decades all show significant learning loss over the summer. Based on test scores, that loss typically equals at least one month of learning for reading and as much as two or more months for math.
It’s hard to imagine a bigger adventure for an American middle or high school student than the opportunity to live overseas somewhere or travel extensively with their family. But that kind of major change brings up an important question for parents: where will my child go to school?
A few months ago, a high school teacher wrote about her experience attending classes for two days as a student. After being at the front of her classroom for 15 years, she wanted to learn what the experience was like for the kids in the seats. After one day as a 10th grader and one as a 12th-grader, she was shocked.
Training for the Olympics or other regional, national or international sports competitions can be a full-time job. Yet many aspiring Olympians – and even some professional athletes -- are youngsters who have to juggle time-consuming practice requirements with rigid traditional school schedules. Add to that the frequent travel for competitions, to meet with sponsors and so on, and scheduling worlds collide.
It’s hard to imagine science classes without hands-on laboratory work. Since all our classes at Sterling Academy are online, parents sometimes wonder whether their child will miss out on this valuable part of the science education experience. There is no reason to worry, though, because modern technology enables us to ensure our online students get personalized, realistic laboratory experiences.
The beginning of a new high school year can be exciting, but that sense of anticipation is often dimmed by the mechanics of the enrollment process. Here are three reasons to get a jumpstart on fall semester at Sterling Academy, to establish a stronger foundation for the coming year.
