How do you choose an online high school? Some would tell you that this is:
a. very simple; or b. very hard; or c. both I think it is possible to apply a simple formula to the selection process. Following this formula will greatly improve the possibility of choosing the right online high school for you. This formula amounts to a ten point plan for success.
Point 1: Is the school accredited or recognized by a governmental agency? At one point, I used to say that the only acceptable choices for online high schools were those that were regionally accredited. I have now expanded my thinking on the topic (but only for high schools; colleges do not get this option). Some states do have a reasonable authorization process. Likewise, some school districts are offering real programs. It may be that neither is currently accredited. They are still reputable. Where you need to be careful is places like Florida that has its share of online high schools, but the approval process is non-existent. It amounts to a license to do business. By the way, there are almost as many fake accreditors as fake online high schools. Real accreditors are CITA and those accreditors listed at CHEA.org and the Department of Education website.
Point 2: Does the school have a reasonable length of operation? This point is difficult to measure. What is reasonable? You do have some leeway here. There are some “schools” that have been around a long time that are fake. If it is a newer school, what is the experience of those running the school. Reputable schools will either have this on the website or will be happy to tell you.
Point 3: Is it listed at a reputable source? With some humility, is it listed in the book below and/or the website below? While I will leave it to others to decide if those resources are valid, they have both had many readers.
Point 4: Is the school reasonably priced? Here’s an oddity for you: Reasonably priced schools are either free or are in the couple thousands of dollars (more or less). Not reasonable are programs that are $295 (with a discount for cash) or something similar. Clearly, there is no doubt this is a fake school. A number of states now have programs which are free. That is a reasonable price. Likewise, there are the commercial programs like Laurel Springs School, Penn Foster High School, or Keystone National High School that are also reasonably priced.
Point 5: Does the instructional methodology match your preferred method? Some online programs are still very much tailored to an independent study format. Other online programs are very much tailored to a more traditional classroom setting. Both are acceptable and it is a matter of personal preference. You will want to know which a particular school does before paying any money! Analyze yourself and decide which is best for you.
Point 6: Does the instructional scheduling match your preferred method? Aligned with Point 5, some schools schedule course times and others have you work on your own. Both are acceptable and it is a matter of personal preference.
Point 7: Does it have a believable website? You absolutely cannot get a real diploma in seven days. Or seventeen days. Or one month. No, you absolutely cannot get a high school diploma for $300. Any site that is making amazing claims is not a good source of information on online high schools.
Point 8: Does it have a professionally-made website? Professionally-made sites look nice; they have a professional appearance. They list staff members. They offer complete contact information. Take a look at the website for Laurel Springs Academy for the Gifted & Talented as an example.
Point 9: Does the curriculum appear to be similar to what you would experience in a traditional school? Absolutely, there should be some room for innovation. Having said that, you really do need to have some courses that look like World History or Algebra (and that probably use those names). Remember that part of the deal is that you want to use this diploma for other purposes like college or employment. Confusing those folks is not a good idea.
Point 10: Are you able to contact the school in multiple ways? A real school will have telephone access. A real school will have a fax number. They will not be the same number. A real school will have an email address and a website.
Should a reputable school hit all ten of these points? Yes. These are minimum standards. Schools should feel free to exceed these points, but potential students should be wary when schools do not live up to them.
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