Online High School??

[entertainme]

Has anyone here done high school 100% online or know of anyone who has done it?

We have the opportunity to sign our son up for 100% online classes next year. We have to decide by Friday.

He's wicked smart, but not performing up to his potential. I'd say it's a mix of boredom, distraction from uncontrolled clsses, and partially comparing himself to others.

From my understanding, the online courses are more rigorous than what they get in regular classes. Also, while X amount of work has to be completed in a week, you could focus on math for six hours in a row, then move on to something else.

I'd be really interested to know if anyone has experience with this, especially for a gifted kid.

Socialization is not a concern for me. He has plenty of friends and would also be tied into his high school so could particpate in any activities he would like.

The Poker Mom

[backspin2]

I had a friend who did this her last year of high school because she was constantly travelling and the course work was SUPER EASY. She was doing basically what we would be doing in school, but everything was lowered in the way it was graded. She did a 1/4 of the work we did and got the same grades as top students. There was nothing advanced about it.

I'm just finishing my first year at college so you can take this for what it's worth, but I wouldn't bother with these online classes. You mentioned socilization not being a problem, but when your kid is away from his friends more and more often, it is only natural for them to drift apart. If you feel your kid isn't performing to his potential, then maybe the regular classes on challenging enough, so you should check to see if your school offers any AP courses which I'm sure they do.

[entertainme]

His school does offer AP courses and he's in the highest classes. (He tried to take an extra math for an elective for fun and they kicked him out the first day because his test scores are too high.)

They also offer both honors and AP classes in the online classes. The teacher I talked to this morning said even some of their best students had trouble with the online courses.

[RayPowers]

My nephew did it. He was not incredibly smart, and was doing it because he was basically dropping out of school, and it was easy even for him.

From what I have seen, its pretty bleh if you want a real education for your child. It's just an easy way to get a diploma.

Ray

[traz]

I don't see how the social environment could be the same. All of the memorable events from High School relate to socializing, and I think you'd be hugely depriving your son

[Dids]

I work in Online Education, kinda. Based on my 10 years of experience, don't do it. You have to be super driven, and I still think on avg the quality of instruction you get is crap. Especially for high school, where the value of being socialized is equal to that of the actual education.

I'd suggest running start (which is a FANTASTIC program) before any online nonsense.

[entertainme]

How am I not hugely depriving him by having him sit in classes listening to stuff he learned in middle school or the teacher having a breakdown because she can't control the class?

What benefit does he get from surrounding him with peers who socially ostracize their classmates for being brains?

Also, he and his buddies play guitar so I'd be anticipating band practices at my house every couple of weeks. He'll start driving next year and would continue to be involved in soccer and youth group.

If he didn't have all the BS that wastes time in school, he should actually have more free time to pursue his interests and socialization.

[Borodog]

Public school is a disaster. Get him out.

[entertainme]

[ QUOTE ]
Public school is a disaster. Get him out.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you have kids and if so what schooling option did you choose for them? I have also considered home schooling. This seems like a middle ground, (and I'm confident that I remember zero calculus.)

[backspin2]

In your case...

private school>public school>online courses

1. Enroll your kid in private school.
2. Watch him excel to your standards.
3. ????????
4. Profit when he becomes a brain surgeon.