Posted by ICON School on Jul 15, 2019 4:17:40 PM

high school student

If you’re currently scoping out your options to finish high school, you may be wondering if finishing up online is the right choice for you. It’s the most flexible option, and that may be just what you need. Whether you’re searching because you’re trying to graduate early, need accelerated courses, or other reasons, there are likely some questions you need answered. We’ll dive into those here, but if you have additional questions then feel free to contact us at any time!

What Makes Online School Different from Other Schools?

As you probably guessed, online high school is entirely online. All courses in the program are available online 24/7 for students, meaning they have the flexibility to do assignments and coursework at any hour of the day.

Many people choose virtual high schools because they are able to get their entire high school diploma online or they can choose to take certain courses online that supplement their other schooling.

The Four Types of Online School

Not all online schools operate the same way. Here’s an explanation of the different types:

  • Private Online Schools: These tend to be the choice for students who want an out-of-state option. However, they tend to be costly and the quality can vary. They also tend to have religious affiliations, which may or may not be a student’s preference.

  • College/University Affiliated Online Programs: These are sponsored by colleges and universities and are a good choice for students looking for dual enrollment in high school and college simultaneously. They are typically high-quality but can be expensive depending on their school affiliation.

  • Charter Schools: These are usually for students who excel with non-traditional teaching methods. They have similar characteristics to online public schools but can be an acquired taste as they often have a unique structure.

  • Public Online School: ICON falls into this category, being government-funded, accredited, and offered to students for free. These are only available to residents of that state or district. In the case of ICON, students must be Idaho residents. Public online schools tend to follow similar curriculum to what you’d find at traditional brick and mortar high schools, but they also have the ability to work with students in other government-backed programs such as Idaho’s Fast Forward program, Individualized Education programs (IEP), or students in Residential Treatment Centers.

What Types of Students Attend Online High School

There is a lot of flexibility as far as who can attend online high school. Here are the different types of people you’ll likely see opt for an online education:

  • Homeschooled students who need or want to supplement their education.
  • Students who want to graduate early and take advantage of advanced opportunities.
  • Teenagers who are unable to take classes at traditional high schools because they’re in a residential treatment center or they faced expulsion from a public school.
  • Students who need greater flexibility because their family’s lifestyle is not conducive to brick and mortar schooling (i.e. they travel a lot for extracurriculars or a parent’s job, or they need to help provide for their family during school hours, etc).
  • Students who feel unsafe or are experiencing bullying at brick and mortar schools.

If any of these sound like you, online high school may be the solution you’ve been looking for! ICON’s free programs for Idaho students are adaptable to provide an educational experience that’s perfect for such a vast variety of student populations.

Benefits of Online High School

Here are a few of the benefits that students have expressed made a difference in their decision to attend or continue attending online school:

  • Flexible schedules
  • More class and program options
  • Non-traditional environment with fewer distractions

Contact us today with any questions you may have about our programs and curriculum, check out our FAQ page, or get a jump on things and register!

ICON School

Written by ICON School

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