How to Graduate from High School Early with Online School
byCharlotte Davies
4 min to read
Whether they’re a motivated student who is looking to stretch themselves academically, a go-getter who wants to achieve a milestone sooner, or someone who simply wants to move on to the next phase of life, you might know a high school senior that’s thinking about how they can graduate high school early. How can you graduate high school early? Turns out there are a lot of different ways to approach this goal.
What are the Benefits of Graduating High School Early?
The benefits of graduating early will be different for each student, depending on their plans for their next phase of life. But overall, graduating early can enable high school seniors to:
Hit a milestone faster: Finishing high school faster can bring a sense of accomplishment and can help students who feel emotionally and mentally ready to move on to the next phase of their life feel empowered to do so.
Get a head start on college: Completing required high school credits sooner allows students to clear their schedules to earn college credit while they’re still in school, which can help them earn their degree faster.
Enter the workforce sooner: Graduating school early means entering the workforce faster, which means they can start earning money, building their portfolio, or growing their career and their skills sooner.
Take a gap year or spend time on interests: Some students want to finish high school early so they can take some time to figure out their next step. They might choose to take a gap year and see the world, get involved with volunteer work, or simply enjoy themselves a bit before stepping into young adulthood.
How Does Early Graduation Work?
There are a few simple but high-impact ways seniors who are attending school online can make their plan to graduate high school early work and earn college and high school credits at the same time.
Dual enrollment
Dual enrollment options let students take college classes while they’re still in high school, helping them earn college credit and potentially reduce the number of hours they’ll need to enroll in once they get there. While programs can vary from school to school, students in many Connections Academy schools can take advantage of our university partnerships to ensure that their credits transfer and have access to special programs.
Take classes online over the summer
If students attend in-person school, they may be able to get through additional credit hours by enrolling in an online school over the summer. As a hybrid student, high schoolers are often able to take courses required for graduation or take course recovery classes.  Online Academy, for example, offers flexible start dates for more than 100 like English, math, science, history, as well as Career and technical Education (CTE) and elective credits for students looking for an efficient way to accomplish their high school credit planning goals. like English, math, science, history, as well as Career and technical Education (CTE) and elective credits for students looking for an efficient way to accomplish their high school credit planning goals.
What are High School Graduation Requirements?
Exact requirements can vary between states, school districts, and the school itself. It’s important to check with your school to see what they require, but in general students must meet the following requirements if they want to graduate high school early:
Four English or language arts courses
Three or four social studies courses like history or government
Three or four math courses
Two to three years of science courses such as chemistry, physics, and biology
How many credits do you need to graduate high school?
Exactly how many credits a student needs to graduate high school can also vary from state to state, though most schools in the U.S. typically require between 20 and 26 credits to graduate, with each course typically earning one credit at a time. Honors or AP classes can be weighted slightly higher, usually around 1.25 or 1.5 credits each, making it possible in some circumstances to graduate high school early.
Virtual school students can check out Connections Academy’s graduation requirements to learn more about our offerings and explore credit requirements by state.
Ready to Explore Online Learning?
Online schools like Connections Academy are perfect for high school seniors looking to go deeper with their studies and prepare for their futures at the same time. Our state-certified teachers are trained to teach online, making sure students are well-prepared for college entrance exams as well as their SAT and ACTs. They will also guide them as they explore career-based coursework specifically designed to prepare them for life after graduation. Download our free eGuide to learn more.
*AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board. Used with permission.
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