Whether you’re looking into summer school classes to get ahead or keep from falling behind, online options are easier to manage with a busy schedule. The question is, is it worth giving up part of your vacation time in the last years of high school? Here’s a look at the benefits of online summer school classes.
Where Can I Find Online Classes?
Where to go for online classes depends on what you are looking for. You may not have to go any farther than your own high school, or online charter schools may be an option. There are also a variety of programs, such as K12, that offer a variety of ways to take online summer courses. K12 offers a variety of online options so that grade school students can “catch up, get ahead, try a new language, or explore electives so that they can start the next school year strong” according to their website.
Apex Learning Virtual School offers advanced placement classes, world languages, the option to retake classes, and even has options for athletes or home schoolers. Local colleges may also offer a few classes high school students can qualify for. They may be pricier than organizations designed around summer learning, but it’s a great way to get ahead before you even set foot in a university.
What Do I Get Out of Summer School?
What you get out of summer classes depends on where you go. You may get credit for your high school, or you may get a little extra learning that will help you as you advance. Taking online college courses may count as high school course electives, but they can also count towards your college credit hours. To earn a degree, you are required to take a certain number of classes. Getting them out of the way during high school summers is a great way to have fewer obligations once you’re in college.
Even if you aren't ready to take a college credit, it’s never too early to find out what kind of subject matter you may be interested in when you’re ready for higher learning. Several of the nation’s top colleges and universities, such as MIT, publish videos on their YouTube channels. You won’t receive credit, but you will still gain knowledge and be more prepared for college.
Where to go and what to take depends largely on what your goals are for summer courses. Talking with your academic counselor can be a great way to find colleges that work with your high school, or to find programs through your school or in your area.
