we are just starting to look into an online school for a son. He is an excellent student but is having health issues making it difficlut for him to attend class. we live in indiana.
Do you have to pick a school in the state you live in or does that matter? we may be moving in a few months and want to make surethe new state would accept the HS diploma.
also how do online schools do labs for science and teach subjects like spanish where you need interaction?
thanks for the help.

As for the first part, no, you do not have to pick an online high school in the state where you live. That being said, if you are looking at one of the free online high schools, then you most certainly do.

As long as the school is accredited or authorized by your state's department of education you should be just fine.

With science, where labs are required, you may have to purchase some small equipment or have access to same. With Spanish, you will likely need to find other opportunities for your child to practice. However, in both cases, it absolutely can be done.

Other questions?


Tom Nixon

Post edited by: Tom Nixon, at: 2008/09/26 08:11

Thank you for your response. After looking at many sites we chose Keystone National high school. He will start classes on monday.
I do have a question aobut science. My son is taking chmestry. I could not find any sites that offered lab components for Chemestry unless they were AP courses. In looking at college admissions req as of 2010 they are requiering "lab" science with several specifiying "wet" labs in 3 or more courses. I have found palces that offer lab kits for chemestry but not any that have .5 unit lab portion. any ideas?

This can be a real concern. Without regard to Keystone National High School, any school that you choose should be able to tell you how to accomplish those chemistry labs.

I would talk with Keystone. While I would not call it a "red flag" if they do not have an answer, I would be concerned. Your child is certainly not the first person to have this problem at their school.

So, please, start with them and then come back and tell us what they had to say. I am happy to try to help if they can not.


Tom Nixon

keystone suggested using Ashworth (used to be James maddison)they have 1 credit lab classes tht you can enroll in and then transfer to keystone for inlcusion on the official tanscript. Keysotne did have lab components for their AP classes and their bio just not regualr chem. Keystone has a wide variety of class selction which is one of the reasons I chose them. I was suprised aobut the lab.I dont htink a few years ago it was a problem but with colleges changing entrance req in 2110 they are req that you have a lab.

That seems a reasonable solution to use the courses from Ashworth University High School.

It does seem odd that they don't offer their own courses, but it could that those are in the works.

I think that this can be one of the problems with using a commercial program (but it doesn't have to be).


Tom Nixon

Post edited by: Tom Nixon, at: 2008/10/06 00:00