Why Families Choose Online School

August 14, 2024 by Valerie Kirk

7 min to read

A middle school student and his dad looking at laptop together

Choosing the right school for your student to grow and learn in is one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make; but with all the different school options, making that decision can be challenging.

Brick-and-mortar public schools, charter schools, and private schools offer good learning environments for some students but may not meet the unique needs of others. Homeschooling and learning pods are other good choices, but not all parents have the time or knowledge necessary to help their children get as much out of them as they can.

To address these concerns, many parents are exploring tuition free virtual public schools as an option for their kids.

Is Online School Better?

Whether or not online school is better for your student depends on many different factors, but if you’re thinking about virtual school, here are ten reasons parents made the switch.

1. Virtual School Offers Flexible Daily School Schedules

Virtual school offers flexible scheduling to work with your family’s lifestyle. Brick-and-mortar school hours may not work for families who travel often or for students who are involved in activities that demand a lot of time, such as the arts or elite athletics. A flexible daily schedule also enables families to do more extracurricular activities.

“Some kids work better in the morning and others after they relax a little. Some might even be night owls. It's ok to let them work at their best time! When they aren't doing schoolwork, toss in a board game, book time, or start a family garden. Hands-on learning has always been the best teacher.” – Traci J., Connections Academy Parent and Learning Coach

2. Students Learn at their Own Pace

Every student learns differently. With virtual schooling, students can complete lessons at their own pace, giving them wiggle room to take extra time with subjects that are more difficult for them. Kids who absorb concepts faster can continue to the next lesson when they’re ready instead of occupying themselves with busywork waiting for the rest of the class to catch up.

“We were able to work at the pace my daughter needed to go at and even work ahead. There is less extra busywork for the students to complete, which in turn makes the school day take less time along with having no distractions from other students and the normal distractions found in a B&M school (pages, phone calls, fire drills, etc.).” – Tara H., Connections Academy Parent and Learning Coach

3. Students with Special Needs can Thrive

Virtual school takes place in the comfort —and familiarity —of your home. With your one-on-one attention and support from online teachers, your student can enjoy learning in an environment that nurtures their learning abilities and accommodates their special needs.

“At Connections Academy, my daughter has never been made to feel that her disabilities are what define her. She has come to realize that it is her knowledge and ability to learn that define her.” – Mother of Sarah, Connections Academy Student

4. Virtual Schools are Accredited

High-quality, accredited virtual public schools like Connections Academy offer a professionally developed curriculum and lessons that follow state guidelines; this means there is a standard of excellence and quality that a curriculum must meet and ensures that students receive the same education as students who attend brick-and-mortar public school.

"We like the advanced curriculum and the fact that our children can work at their own pace. I love that they can take extra time when they come to a lesson that they enjoy." – Amy S., Connections Academy Parent and Learning Coach 

5. Virtual Schools Offers a Variety of Courses

Virtual public schools often have a wider selection of courses. Most offer gifted and talented programs as well as honors and Advanced Placement® courses. Students can also take career-readiness and college prep courses and courses that incorporate specific disciplines like STEAM. Virtual school also offers a variety of electives for all grades that you can’t find at a brick-and-mortar school, including coding classes and world languages.

“The opportunities that Connections Academy has provided for our family has been great. My children both came from a very small district that didn’t have a lot of opportunities, class-wise. My 11th grader was able to take classes like 2D Animation, 3D Computer Modeling, and Driver's Ed. My 7th grade son was able to take a class called CS Discoveries where he learned to do coding. My son also loves all of the STEM-related clubs and extra activities/events that are offered.” – Brandi C., Connections Academy Parent and Learning Coach 

6. Certified Teachers Who Effectively Teach Online

Teaching online is different than teaching in a brick-and-mortar classroom. Virtual public school teachers are certified and are specially trained to teach online. Students have regularly scheduled online instruction —including live classes— from teachers who are grade-level or subject matter experts, plus one-on-one support when needed.

“This is our first year with Connections Academy. We weren't sure what to expect, but this year has been so wonderful that we will be staying at Connections from here forward! All of the teachers tailor the lessons to keep my son challenged, while always staying available to him for any questions and concerns. The live lessons are fun and engaging, and the portfolios allow for a hands-on approach to learning instead of constantly being on screen.” – Amie C., Connections Academy Parent and Learning Coach 

7. Reinforce Your Values

Virtual school offers the opportunity to add time into your student’s day to learn and engage with your family’s values. It also provides the flexibility to incorporate volunteering opportunities or field trips centered around these values, reinforcing or deepening their connection to their community.

“Connections Academy allows us to continue doing what we love most—helping others—without sacrificing school.” – Susana H., Connections Academy Parent and Learning Coach

8. Virtual School Offers a Safe, Consistent Learning Environment

Online school also fosters inclusivity. Students in online school don’t have to deal with unwelcome distractions such as bullying and peer pressure. Instead, they can learn from the comfort and safety of their own home and are able to show up each day as their authentic selves.

“I never imagined being able to communicate so freely with my teachers. The students seem to be more caring and friendly than they were in my brick-and-mortar school, and I still feel a part of a classroom when I attend LiveLesson sessions.” – Luis A., Connections Academy Student

9. Virtual School Provides Socialization Opportunities

Most virtual schools offer socialization opportunities including live, synchronous classes, field trips, and clubs to help students explore their interests and meet like-minded friends.

"I love Connections Academy because my teacher is nice. I love to go on the field trips, like to the candy factory." – Ian, Connections Academy Student

10. Families can be Involved

With virtual school, parent or caregiver involvement is essential. Parents or other trusted adults play an important role in the student’s education by being a Learning Coach. As a Learning Coach, you are n advocate for your student and can witness them learning, growing, and thriving firsthand. You can also access their curriculum and gradebook to help keep your student on track and set meetings with your student’s teachers to make sure your efforts are aligned.

“I was impressed with the curriculum and the ability for me to be more involved in my kids’ education.” – Nellie L., Connections Academy Parent and Learning Coach

Enrollment Requirements for Virtual School

It’s never too late to transfer to virtual school. Virtual public schools like Connections Academy can offer high-quality curriculum and the resources and support parents need—including teachers who are specially trained to teach online.

Join one of Connections Academy’s information sessions to learn more about our virtual public schools to see if they are a good fit for your student’s learning journey.