Quality of Education at Virtual Schools

In our state, we have virtual schools. Instead of going to school, the kids have the option of staying home. I am thinking that this type of education would be perfect for my daughter, a high-school sophomore, because she spends so much time acting in civic productions and finds it hard to get up so early for school. Will she be able to get a good education at a virtual school? -- Interested
Answer: Online learning has really grown in the past few years. Most of the students enrolled in online courses are at the high-school level, like your daughter. Most, however, are just taking one or two courses not offered at their school.
The verdict is still out about how good an education students can get from cyber schools compared with brick and mortar ones. As far as AP (advanced placement) courses are concerned, the College Board hasn't seen any significant score differences between those in traditional schools and those in online schools.
There are definitely advantages to online courses, such as opportunities to work at one's own pace, to pursue serious outside interests and to be exposed to a greater variety of courses than those offered at a traditional school. At the same time, there are obvious disadvantages. Both full-time and part-time cyber students require strong motivation to avoid the distractions of Twitter, Facebook and other tantalizing websites. And they must have good time-management skills to handle these courses.
Most online students remain part of their own school district. This ensures they receive credit for the schooling. Otherwise, you must be sure that an online school is accredited. You also need to be aware that some state virtual schools do charge an enrollment fee.