Leaving one school and moving to a new one can be a concern for both parents and students. When the change takes place mid-semester, more questions arise about making the transition a successful one. This is an excellent time to consider switching to online school.
There are several reasons you may be looking to enroll in a new school in the middle of a semester:
- For some students, moving up to the next grade presents tougher challenges than expected. You try it for a month or two, but things aren’t going as well as you hoped. Whether the problem is rooted in academics – your student needs more personal attention than he or she can get at their current school – or it’s rooted in non-classroom issues such as increased peer pressure, changing schools can make a monumental difference in a student’s ability to focus and thrive.
- Sometimes families move to a new home in the middle of the school year, and that means moving to a new school.
- Sometimes you realize you simply are no longer happy with your current school. Students and teachers can develop personality conflicts that get in the way of learning. Sadly, teacher bullying and similar behaviors have become a problem in some schools, and that can derail any student’s desire to attend class. Sometimes there is new administration at the school, and parents are less than excited about changes being made. Without a positive atmosphere, students can have difficulty succeeding, so finding a new school makes the most sense.
When these things happen, what’s the best way to proceed?
Enrolling in online school can ease a mid-semester transition.
If you change to another brick-and-mortar school, you may be able to sign up for the same classes. However, schools don't all cover the same curriculum in the same order or same way. You may miss out on some learning, or have to repeat classwork you’ve already completed.
At Sterling Academy, we handle learning differently. If you enroll with us and complete your first semester, we will start you in the second semester of the course. If you didn’t complete the first semester, then you earned no credit for it and will need to start the course at the beginning. Since our students learn at their own pace, you can move quickly through any material you’ve already covered. And if there are gaps, the teacher can help you get up to speed.
The advantages of self-paced learning continue beyond the mid-semester transition. Our online middle and high school students approach every class in the way that best matches their ability. You can complete easier course material quickly, or deliberately take things slowly when that works better to ensure you really “get it.”
Switching to online school addresses other issues, too.
Once you enroll in our online school, the focus is on you. You’ll never again have to worry whether moving or other physical changes will interrupt your education, because you can study from anywhere in the world there is an internet connection. You won’t have to worry about other negative circumstances that are out of your control, such as bullying, drugs or fear of violence during the school day. For that matter, you won’t have to deal with peer pressure or other unwelcome distractions, either.
You can interact meaningfully with online teachers, too, to get help by asking specific questions or to explore ideas and concepts more generally. No teacher bullying or attitude at Sterling Academy, just high-caliber, certified teachers dedicated to your success as an individual learner.
Making a mid-semester school change shouldn’t feel traumatic or disrupt your education. If your family is considering a change, online school can make the transition both smooth and positive, for students and parents, too.