Hi I have a 16 year old son who has asked to switch from a traditional public school to an on-line school. He does not like school at all. He's definitely capable - he was in a gifted program in middle school and he'll be going to college. He is an avid reader and enjoys writing so I want a school with good course selection particularly in language arts.

I just don't know how to choose - the options are overwhelming. Can you make a recommendation?

Thanks.

While it is difficult to make a suggestion without knowing in which state you reside, if your child is gifted, there are a couple possibilities:

Laureate School for the Gifted & Talented

and

EPGY, Stanford University

I also like, for gifted students, some of the university-based programs like University of Missouri High School. That could be a particularly good choice for him because it has a dual credit option (credit at both the high school and college level for the same course).

If you want to share more information, I may be able to give you some further thoughts.


Tom Nixon

Thanks - we live in Michigan. Any other information you need in order to help? I'll check out your suggestions. I don't know if he would be accepted into a gifted program now - his standardized test scores are great but his grades in high school have been anything but...

Sarah

Here's one of those secrets that many parents of gifted students don't know: Often gifted children are not gifted students! In other words, they do not necessarily do well in school. Why? Because they often need to be taught differently and are not. In a number of states, GATE programs are inside Special Education departments. This is because students at both ends of the spectrum need to be taught differently.

While I cannot guess about the Stanford program, the others might be open to someone with high test scores, but not great grades.

In the state of Michigan, there are two online high schools. They are:

Michigan Virtual High School

and

Central Michigan Online School

You should take a look at both of those as well. Of the two, only Michigan Virtual High School offers a diploma. It is free if you can get your local school district to pay for it. If not, there is a cost involved.

I would talk with all the schools that have been mentioned and work from there. Laureate is part of the long-established Laurel Springs School, so you might want to start there. But, yes, definitely look at al of them.


Tom Nixon

Thanks so much. Given what I have said about my son, would you recommend looking into Keystone? They do seem to have a decent amount of AP classes.

I think that Keystone National High School has a solid program and is certainly another possibility.

What I might suggest is to take a look at the suggested programs, ask the schools some questions, and then come back and I am very open to discussing them all further.


Tom Nixon