Individually tailoring instructional programs has long been known to be the most effective teaching method. Unfortunately, traditional public schooling suffers from an inherent inability to effectively teach students at their own level and pace. Teachers try, but it’s just not possible, given the constraints of daily class schedules and the need to follow one established lesson plan for the entire class. Online high school, on the other hand, is specifically designed for individual instruction.
The ability to solve problems is as fundamental to everyday living as it is to enjoying a satisfying career. It is a skill every child needs to develop. Yet traditional schooling often tends to stifle our children’s natural curiosity and problem-solving capabilities instead of encouraging them.
Electives are the courses that allow you to personalize your high school education. One of the many advantages of an online high school like Sterling Academy is that we offer a broader selection of electives than may be found at your local school. That means you can learn more about what interests you most, explore new subjects and take courses that will help make you a more well-rounded person.
While homeschooling and a private online high school have some things in common, they differ in several important ways. Web-based schools are sometimes called “online homeschool” because students often work at home.
In a blog article in 2012, our Principal, J Lee Harshbarger, cited a 60-country study of 15-year-olds that ranked American students poorly in math, science and reading, whereas Chinese students ranked #1 in all three. Living in Beijing at the time, J Lee was able to discuss these results with Chinese students who downplayed the absolute test-taking focus of their own education system and expressed envy of the American system that values critical thinking and creativity.
For today’s high school students, digital literacy has become as crucial an educational outcome as reading, writing, math and science. Cornell University defines digital literacy as “the ability to find, evaluate, utilize, share and create content using information technologies and the Internet.”
Getting into the college of your choice is a wonderful and exciting achievement for any high school student. But succeeding in college requires you to take complete responsibility for your own learning. Students that attend online high school gain significant college prep advantages, because independent learning skills are already ingrained by the time they arrive at college.
Today’s high school students are far busier than their parents or grandparents were when they were in school. Aside from traditional school-related extracurricular activities, teens often have other reasons for an action-packed schedule. More and more families are asking themselves what to do when their student’s schedule has too many conflicts.
You don’t have to be a die-hard fan of professional football to know the name Tim Tebow. As a Heisman Trophy winner and starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos he made national headlines. But it’s Tim’s high school history that is most interesting to online high school students and their parents.
One of the questions we are often asked by parents and prospective students about online school is what socialization opportunities exist. After all, teens are learning their way as individuals in addition to gaining an education. While social interactions can be very different for online students compared to their traditional school peers, that doesn’t mean opportunities are lacking.
