COLUMBIA, Md., April 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Enrollment is underway for the 2019-2020 school year at Connections Academy online schools nationwide. Since 2001, Connections Academy has delivered quality public education beyond the traditional classroom; using technology to connect students and their families to teachers, classmates, lessons, and extracurricular activities.
Meet Delaney, a Connections Academy alumna who received her entire K-12 education online. What attracted the family to online school? And how did it prepare her for a bright future?
Why Students Enroll in Online School
Gender Breakdown of Student Body
Grade Level Distribution of Online School
Prior Schooling of Enrolled Students
Alysa Liu took first place for women at the 2019 U.S. Figure Skating Championship, when she landed three triple axles. Alysa made the switch to a Connections Academy online school in sixth grade to benefit from a flexible schedule to pursue skating at a higher level.
Connections Academy public schools are tuition-free, accredited, and available in over half of the states in the U.S., while an online private school, International Connections Academy, serves students in all states and across the globe. Parent information sessions are going on now.
"More than technology, it's the relationships between teachers, students, and families that distinguish Connections Academy. Our online school model affords teachers the time to work one-on-one with students and personalize their learning They also consult regularly with parents and Learning Coaches about student progress and engagement," commented Tom ap Simon, managing director for Pearson, which delivers the Connections Academy online school program.
Students choose Connections Academy for a variety of reasons; including its award-winning curriculum, state-certified teachers, and vibrant school community. The following 2019 snapshot offers insight into the schools, student body, and family attitudes about the Connections Academy choice.
2019: Why Students Enroll The 2019 Connections Academy Parent Survey reveals the top reasons for enrollment and include a desire for: flexibility (48%), a different public school (37%), a safe environment (36%), more involvement with child's education (25%). Twenty-three percent of parents say they enrolled their child to avoid bullying, while 17% have a child with health issues. *The 2019 survey was conducted Jan. 14 - Mar. 1, 2019 by Shapiro + Raj
2019: The Connections Academy Student Body
Gender Student enrollment at Connections Academy skews slightly more female (55% female, 45% male).
Grade Level Distribution Across Connections Academy schools, nearly half of all students enrolled are high school students (48% in grades 9-12), while 30% of enrolled students are in middle school, and 22% are in grades K-5.
Prior Schooling The majority of students who enroll in Connections Academy schools come from traditional public schools (63% of all students). Other reported "prior schooling" includes: home school (9%), other online school (7%), no prior school/PreK (7%), public charter school (6%), private school (4%).
Supporting Students with Social and Emotional Challenges Connections Academy schools offer an environment where students can address social and emotional challenges. The 2018 Connections Academy student surveys show that 51% of middle/high schoolers say that a benefit of online school is a safe environment; 49% of high schoolers say avoiding peer pressure is another benefit. Thirty-six percent of parents say they enroll their child for the "safe environment."
Responding to recent Pew Research Center data on teens and mental health, Connections Academy school leader, Melissa Brown commented, "Online schools have a distinct advantage in serving these students because we can offer a safe and stable space for students to heal. Being away from factors that contribute to anxiety and depression can support a student's self-confidence, allowing for a re-focus on academics."
Student Athletes, Actors, and Advocates Since its founding, Connections Academy has met the needs of student actors, athletes, entrepreneurs and advocates. Online school provides flexibility to balance schoolwork and performing, training, or volunteering. Connections Academy schools have served Olympians like Lyndsey Fry, Mirai Nagasu, Vincent Zhou, and actress Ashley Argota. Most recently, Connections Academy student Alysa Liu took first place at the 2019 U.S. Figure Skating Championship. Alysa's father, Arthur Liu, commented, "We tried one of our local public schools, but it required students to be there from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. each day. That really didn't work for her. When I decided to pull her out of middle school, I was looking to online schools. Connections Academy came highly recommended; we had no hesitation."
Satisfied Parents Each year, Connections Academy schools survey parents of enrolled students and consistently earn high marks for curriculum (95% agree the curriculum is high quality), technology (95% agree the technology improves the learning experience), and teachers (97% are satisfied with the teachers' helpfulness). Ninety-four percent of families recommend the schools to other families.
About Connections Academy Since 2001, Connections Academy online schools have delivered high-quality online education to students in grades K through 12. Hallmarks of the program include personalized learning, flexibility to learn where and when students learn best, certified teachers, an award-winning, standards-aligned curriculum, technology tools, and a rich online school community. For more information, call 888-410-6502 or visit http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com. Connections Academy is part of the global learning company Pearson.
SOURCE Connections Academy
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