Understanding the pros and cons of public school is essential before you decide to enroll in an online public school program. The choice between public and private school can be a difficult one to make. Many times public schools will offer a free online option to students who don’t want to, or can’t, go to school in person. Private online schools provide high-quality education but can get pricey. So how do you choose?
Online high school is fundamentally different than online university because the standards are very specific. There isn’t much leeway when it comes to the material that you need to teach at a high school. You don’t choose an online high school based on the material that it teaches, but rather how it teaches it. The following blog post is going to go over all the pros and cons of public school online and give you some tools to help you make a good choice.
Is an online public school right for you?
There are many reasons that you might be considering going to a public school online. If you’re under 18, then it’s likely your local school district has an option for you as a replacement for the standard in-person route. Depending on your school district, this can be a high-quality engaging experience, or it can be less than ideal. If you’re over 18, then you most likely won’t qualify for a free online public option.
Going back to school online is an excellent choice if you want to expand your professional opportunities or continue to college. An online option becomes ideal if you’re currently working and can’t afford to take time off to go back to school.
Pros and cons of public school online
Pros:
- Local campus support: When you go to a local public school online then you can always go to the campus for assistance if you need it. In-person help can be a significant advantage over an online school that doesn’t have a campus.
- Free if you’re under 18: This is probably the most significant advantage of going to online public school. Many school districts will let you choose the online option over going to class in person which means that they have to make it free. You can save a lot of money by going this route if you qualify for it.
Cons:
- Not as high quality as private: While it’s true that online public school options will teach much of the same information as their private counterparts, many times they don’t have the resources to maximize student experience. There is fierce competition in the online private high school market, and as a result, private schools need to be continually improving to stay relevant.
- Not as prestigious as private: Having a diploma come from a private school looks great on a resume. It doesn’t matter if you went to the private school online or in person, employers and colleges look at private high school differently from public.
Enrolling in high school online
Once you have decided which route you want to take, your next step will be to enroll. If you have decided to go with a private school like ARHS, then the enrollment process is pretty simple. Once your application is approved, you can start taking classes right away. If you ever have any questions, we are here to make sure your enrollment goes smoothly.