Boxed curriculum for high school student?

[urchin_grey]

(I have a similar post in Finding Your Tribe, Louisiana.)

My 17yo sister is desperate to get out of public school. She hates it and is really behind. My mom has agreed to let her do the online public school thing, but there's only one option in LA (called Louisiana Virtual School, anyone know anything about this one?). She might be able to do Connections Academy, but they're still waiting to see if they open in LA for this coming school year.

So anyway, if the LA Virtual School turns out to be a not-so-great choice and CA doesn't open in our state in time, what boxed curriculum would be a good choice? Keep in mind, my mom is NOT a homeschooler, IYKWIM. They need something my sister can mostly do on her own, completely laid out for her. They are doing this strictly so she can catch up and get a diploma because at the rate she is going at her school, she will "age out" before she graduates.

[AAK]

I am sure someone else can answer better than me! I don't know about LVS, but the usual complaints about them is that it is "school at home". Or, for younger kids people complain that the "box" of goods doesn't allow for child to be excelled in one area and behind in the next. With high school though, you register for the appropriate courses.

I did look at the LVS website. I am only concerned that your sister's contact person would be in her local school. Assuming I understood that part correctly. If she is trying to get away from that school, she might not want a contact person who may already have her mind set about her.

However, on a positive note. . . since being enrolled in a virtual school IS a way of being a public school student without setting foot in the school--your sister would earn her diploma. To strictly homeschool requires my child to take the GED (don't know if this is true in all states).

How many courses does she need to take to graduate? You said she was behind. Is this skill level or simply regarding credits? If it is skill level, this may be a really good choice for her because she can enroll in the courses that make the most sense for her. If it is in credits, would she be able to pass the GED and get on with her life? That could be an option too.

If no one has real experience with LVS here, maybe contact them and ask for the name of the contact teacher at her school. See if you can find local people who use it, talk with them and see what they think.

Good luck to your sister.

Amy

[Suzannah]

Sent you a PM!

[urchin_grey]

As far as "behind", I'd probably say a bit of both, but I'm not really sure what her skill level is or what credits she needs. I'll have to ask her. Public school obviously never worked well for her though. Our mom just sees it as not caring/being lazy but I see it as just not thriving in that environment. She's miserable there; how could she learn anything? Actually, it really hasn't "worked" for any of us, to be honest. My middle sister and I are the only 2 (out of 5) that "made it" through that school with okay grades and without failing anything, but neither one of us applied ourselves in the least. The two of us just happen to be the type that can get by without doing anything. Our 22yo sister (who is between the middle and me) dropped out after failing repeatedly, then of course the 17yo is failing out, and now our 14yo sister is going to 8th grade this coming year for the 2nd time. The school system there just sucks, period.

AFAIK, in Louisiana, the parent can actually issue the child a diploma themselves, and it is supposed to carry as much weight as a diploma issued from a regular high school. That's just what I've read in passing though, DS is only 5 so I haven't researched HS diplomas that thoroughly. I know our mom really doesn't want her to get a GED though, or least not just drop out and get the GED. She just turned 17 in March, so age-wise, she would have another year left even if she was in the correct grade, so it would probably be best to spend the next year preparing to take the ACT. I really want her to go to school or do something else worthwhile. Times are tough right now and even college grads are having trouble getting jobs here. We've had many people with degrees come into Outback where my SO and sister work, applying for jobs that high schoolers normally do. Its sad.