Online high school is an increasingly popular option for students looking to get a different kind of education. With so many online schools out there, it’s hard not being able to tell the myths from reality – and that can be worrisome! Well worry no more; here are five common misconceptions about online schooling. After nearly a decade of administrative experience in a full-time virtual school, here is a list of five myths about online high school.
Myths about online high school #:1 – There are no social interactions in online high schools.
They’re all sitting at home by themselves! The reality is that, of course, students will still have opportunities to interact with other people – whether they be teachers or classmates. For example, many virtual schools offer chat rooms, message boards, and discussion forums where the student can discuss their assignments, ask for help, and get feedback from their peers.
The courses offered by an online school may not require as much work as one would think because some classes only need 15-30 minutes per day worth of time commitment; this leaves them plenty of time to be involved in other extracurriculars and volunteer work.
Myth about online high school #: 2 – All students complete their courses independently without any help from teachers or other students.
While it’s true that there are no formal classroom settings like traditional schools have – at an online school, the student doesn’t need to come into a physical location to attend class. Instead, students can access their coursework from any computer with internet access. This means that they have the opportunity to work through an assignment by themselves under a teacher’s supervision or ask for help when needed in chat rooms, virtual classrooms, message boards, discussion forums, telephone conversation, and/or email.
Myth about online high school #:3 – The courses are easy and don’t require much work or effort.
The reality is that every online school has different levels of difficulty – just like traditional schools! A student should consult with his/her guidance counselor before enrolling at an online school so he/she knows what level will fit them best; some may need to take easier classes while others might be able to handle tougher ones. Remember, it doesn’t matter if you’re going into college in four years or twenty – the courses you take now will affect your future, so choose wisely! And many virtual schools are beginning to offer more career and technological courses, providing more preparation into different career options after they graduate.
Myth about online high school #:4 – There are no opportunities for extracurricular activities like sports, clubs, and volunteering.
This is a common misconception about online schooling that’s not true at all! Virtual schools have many different options available to students – including athletics (yes, they can play their favorite sport!), clubs of various interests, and volunteer work with charities or church groups.
What makes these organizations special?
They’re run completely through the school via chat rooms, forums on assignments, and other virtual means; this allows them to be more flexible in accommodating student schedules while still giving plenty of opportunity for involvement. Depending on the state, students can participate in athletics through the school’s own team or through a student’s resident school district. Some clubs and co-curricular activities also allow for in-person interaction. The possibilities really are endless when it comes to what an online high school can offer.
Myth about online high school #:5 – You can’t go to college if you attend a virtual school.
That’s just not the case! Virtual schools often have partnerships with colleges so that students who attend and/or graduate from an online high school are eligible for dual-enrollment while being a high school student, scholarships, and other financial aid opportunities, making it possible to pursue higher education without ever having set foot on a traditional campus. The benefit of attending an online high course is that many universities accept credits through these courses as well-meaning they won’t have any trouble transferring their credits into another university when the time comes.
Let Us Know How We Can Still Help
We hope this article has helped to dispel some of the myths around attending an online high school. If you’re looking into enrolling your student in an online high school, we can help.
