5 Benefits of Private Online School
byBob Engler
After several years of slow but steady growth, the number of families who opted for their children to learn at home skyrocketed when state governments closed public schools in attempts to slow the spread of COVID-19.
At-home learning nearly doubled during the lockdowns. If you are considering alternatives to in-person public schools, here are a few things to keep in mind:
What is the difference between private and public online schools?
Private online schools are more accessible than public online schools. Public online schools, like Connections Academy®, are not available for families who live in certain states or who live overseas.
Fortunately, they have another option to government schools. They are enrolling their children in private online schools, such as the nationally accredited Pearson Online Academy.
The anywhere/anytime access to an online private school curriculum also makes it an effective alternative to brick-and-mortar schools for families who often relocate—within the country or anywhere in the world—for employment or military service.
Regardless of their reason for choosing it, parents have the peace of mind knowing the private online school option delivers a complete, high-quality, uninterrupted education.
Why is a private online school better?
When the COVID-19 lockdowns happened, parents discovered that remote learning enabled them to create distraction-free, student-centric learning environments.
For families without access to a public online school, private online academies enriched their family relationships and gave them a prominent voice in their student’s education. They also protected students from troubling public-school curricula, bullying, and intolerance.
Here are five benefits of private online schools:
1. Scheduling flexibility
Parents and students often mention the freedom to customize their schedules among the top benefits of private online schooling. For one thing, they can organize school time to allow for activities such as athletics and performing arts, volunteering, family time, and more.
Also, unlike the rigid timetables found in traditional schools, online lessons can be organized to engage students when they are at their best.
“People’s energy levels peak at various times during the day and night, and the freedom to take advantage of those higher energy levels is one of the greatest benefits of remote schooling.”
— Online school parent
2. Affordability
Neither private online schools nor their brick-and-mortar counterparts receive state, county, or district funds. So, parents with kids in private online academies will pay tuition just like those with kids in traditional private schools. There is one important difference, though: virtual private school tuition can be substantially lower. In addition, some online private schools offer discounts for multiple children and military families.
3. Expanded private school curriculum
Online private academies offer any number of ways for students to thrive. Students can add courses to accelerate their progress. They can enroll part-time to study subjects not offered at their full-time school. Summer courses are available for those who want to improve skills, enhance transcripts, get ahead or catch up on credit hours, or recover credits for high school graduation. Online summer school may offer rolling start dates to accommodate vacations, travel, and other family activities.
“I am surprised by how easy it is for the kids to be able to work at their own pace. If they excel in a certain subject, they can work ahead. If they are struggling with a subject, they can take extra time to make sure they fully understand what is being taught before moving on to the next lesson.”
— Online school parent
4. Advanced studies
High-quality online private schools provide students with opportunities to earn college credit while still in high school. Pearson Online Academy, for instance, offers a dual credit program. It provides the opportunity to earn seven first-year college credits that count toward both high school and a bachelor’s degree. It also enables students to earn a high school diploma and an associate degree at the same time.
“My son loves that he has the opportunity to take gifted and talented classes … He also likes the idea of dual enrollment once he reaches the high school level so that he can be working on his associate degree while still in high school.”
— Online school parent
5. Independence
The nature of a private online school inspires students to own their learning. Taking responsibility motivates development of important life skills, such as critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and independence. Moreover, because private online academies don’t take public money, they are free from government-mandated curriculum and, in some cases, testing, attendance policies, and school-year scheduling.
“By the time she was starting high school she was completely independent. She has taken on a wide variety of electives and some honors classes. She has built amazing relationships with her teachers [and gained the] confidence to take on challenges and take responsibility for her learning.”
— Online school parent
Which is right for you: Online public vs. private school?
Just like online public school, online private school isn’t right for every family. But for some, it’s a fantastic fit that transforms a child’s view of learning—and enhances family life. These advantages make a high-quality, online private school an excellent option for parents who want to be involved in their child’s education. Learn more about how online private school curriculum prepares students for the future at Pearson Online Academy.
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