Question by amyhubb3: How does one get a high school diploma when attending an online school like Jubilee Academy?
I am looking into them for my daughter who will be starting 8th grade in the fall. In order for her to go on to the college she wants she will need the diploma. Other online schools offer them, but they did not belong to the BBB and had quite a few complaints against them. Will she need to be tested in her senior year by the public school in town?? Any help is appreciated.
Best answer:
Answer by HS Mom
Okay, first off, I highly recommend you *not* go with Jubilee. You can search the archives here for some input. Also, search for the owner, Mimi Rothschild Mandel. She has been involved in a LOT of failed online schools, and even had legal issues in PA.
That said, you can HS her using *any* curriculum or one you make yourself. She does *not* need a “certified, accredited, whatever you want to call it,” diploma. The main way to get into college is via a portfolio, a transcript, and SAT or ACT testing. She can also take come community college classes as a high schooler and get some credits out of the way, and then transfer to college/university as a transfer student.
No, she does not need to be tested in her senior year, other than the ACT & SAT. These are typically not given at the schools, but an offsite location such as a university.
There are many reputable online schools. Some offer official diplomas and some do not. Personally, I will not use the diploma route for my son b/c I don’t want him locked into the courses from one online program. I want to mix and match courses from all sources and make his transcript on my own.
You should know that the diploma options usually cost more also.
Here are some online high schools:
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Apex:
http://www.apexlearning.com/
K12 (uses some Apex courses and some of their own):
http://www.k12.com/hsc/flash/
Florida Virtual School:
http://www.flvs.net/
NorthStar Academy:
http://www.northstar-academy.org/……
UNL Independent Study High School:
http://nebraskahs.unl.edu/index.shtml……
Center for Distance and Independent Study:
http://cdis.missouri.edu/
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Those will all be teacher led, if that’s what you are looking for. You can also do parent-led programs and use whatever curriculum you want to, Abeka, BJU, Sonlight, etc.
Also, check to see if your state has virtual school options (typically a K12 or Connections Academy). By using those, your daughter would be a public school student, so the whole diploma issue isn’t one, as the academy will issue one just like any other public school. There is also the cost advantage – it will be “free” (minus normal PS fees).
HTH!
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