The Benefits of Online High School

February 3, 2025

High school students have plenty of education options today, but it’s tough to find one that beats the benefits of online high school. In this article, we’ll detail the benefits of online high school and why it is a wonderful alternative–especially if students are struggling in traditional high school or require flexibility in their schedules.

High school students have plenty of education options today, but it’s tough to find one that beats the benefits of online high school. In this article, we’ll detail the benefits of online high school and why it is a wonderful alternative–especially if students are struggling in traditional high school or require flexibility in their schedules.

The Main Benefits of Online High School

While there are plenty of benefits to enrolling in online high school, there are a few that truly stand out.

Student-Centered Education

Traditional high schools tend to subscribe to the cookie-cutter theory that all students learn at the same pace and in the same manner. We know that’s simply not true. Students of all ages learn at different speeds and through different approaches, and this is especially important to recognize in high school, as students begin to think about college and life beyond graduation.

Online high schools generally offer a student-centered education, a model that literally places the student at the center of their academic journey. At Holston Academy, for example, our educators act as guides (not lecturers), providing resources, advice, and support while allowing students to take ownership of their learning.

Self-Paced Learning

As we mentioned, students learn at different paces. When you consider that traditional high schools teach one way and at one speed, that results in a couple of unfortunate scenarios:

  1. Some students master the material quickly and are then left waiting for the teacher to finish the lesson plan for the rest of the students, growing bored in the process.
  2. Some students struggle with the lesson and are ultimately left behind once the teacher is ready to move on with the rest of the class, leaving them to try and catch up even if they still don’t understand the material.

Neither of these scenarios is ideal. That’s why self-paced learning is such a major benefit of online high school. With a self-paced education, high school students can spend as much or as little time as they need on a lesson or subject before moving onto the next topic. This allows students to truly grasp the material rather than learn just enough to pass a quiz or test.

Flexible Schedule

Some high school students are immensely talented both within and outside the classroom. Whether a star athlete, a musical prodigy, or a magnetic performer, these students often require many hours of training to hone their craft in hopes of taking their talents to the next level. Factor in performances, meets, competitions, and travel time, and it becomes quite the challenge fitting all of that in with classes and schoolwork. Additionally, some families travel extensively, making it difficult for students to stay afloat when they’re missing so much school.

That’s why a flexible schedule is one of the main benefits of online high school–especially for busy students. In most cases, classes are recorded so they can be watched at any time. And studying and homework can also be done whenever and wherever it’s most convenient for the student. At Holston Academy, our Academic Coaches work with students to help them create their daily and weekly course schedules around the times they’re most productive.

Support Tailored to Your Needs

Again, traditional schools simply don’t have the resources to offer personalized support to each of the hundreds or thousands of students within the building. High school students, however, need that type of support, especially when it’s time to start planning for their futures. The best online high schools do have the bandwidth to support each student individually, which is another significant benefit.

That means personalized college planning, personalized career goals, and–most importantly–personalized academic support. How this is offered depends on the institution, but the best online high schools have advisors or counselors available for each student. Holston Academy, for example, has dedicated Academic Coaches who act as guides, mentors, and facilitators, providing students with the tools and support to help them achieve their academic and future goals. They inspire curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and provide the necessary guidance while allowing students to take ownership of their learning journey.

A Wide Range of Classes

Traditional high schools are only equipped to offer so many courses. Online high schools, on the other hand, can offer a huge selection of classes designed to appeal to all students. For example, Holston Academy offers more than 300 online classes that include some really cool languages, different world languages, and early career classes. A few of these include:

These are just a tiny sampling of the courses offered by Holston Academy. View our entire course catalog here.

Getting Ahead or Catching Up

Circumstances differ for all high school students. Some may be looking to move faster than traditional high school allows them to. For that reason, online high school is beneficial as students can work as quickly as they’d like and take more advanced courses (such as Advanced Placement courses) that better prepare them for college or a potential career.

Conversely, some students may have experienced challenging events in their lives that made it impossible for school to be the top priority. A huge benefit of online high school is that these students can take courses that allow them to catch up to where they should be. Or, if a student is simply struggling in a certain subject, an online high school course learned at their own pace can help minimize those struggles and get them up to speed.

Preparation for Life and Career

Academics are certainly a priority for all students. However, life skills are arguably the most important ones to learn in high school. Sure, public schools offer some courses related to important life skills, but another benefit of online high school is that, aside from the curriculum, students learn to be more independent regardless of what they’re studying.

Many online high school students, because of the self-paced nature of their education, develop excellent study skills, digital fluency, and the ability to learn independently–all of which will serve them well beyond graduation. Check out our article that details how the benefits of online school help nurture future-ready skills.

Stability

For students who travel or move often, instability is a constant source of stress. Moving from school to school, saying goodbye to old friends while having to make new ones, and missing significant portions of the school year truly takes its toll on students–especially those in high school who are trying to put together solid years ahead of college and their careers.

The stability that online high school provides is a huge benefit and a major relief. High school students in military families, for example, do not have to keep changing schools and finding new friends every time a parent is stationed in a different location. High-level athletes who travel frequently or dedicate dozens of hours a week training and competing won’t fall behind in their lessons. Performers who similarly spend the majority of their time practicing and putting their talents on display can study at their own pace. Stability is possible with an online high school education, because students can continue school on their own schedule. And that eliminates plenty of stress that already-busy students don’t need in their lives.

Better Suited for Students Who Need More Support

High school students, just like any other segment of the population, experience their share of struggles, both mentally and physically. Many traditional schools simply don’t have the resources to support student mental health or those who require physical assistance. High school students with anxiety or ADHD already experience stress–dealing with that stress while in a traditional school that lacks adequate counseling options often makes matters worse. Students with chronic illness not only have to deal with their physical symptoms and ailments, but they also suffer mentally by missing extended periods of school.

One of the many benefits of online high school is that it removes so many of the potential stressors for students who may already be dealing with physical and/or mental health challenges. Whether it’s a fear of missing out on important lessons, stress about falling behind or not understanding the material, bullying, or the difficulty of physically navigating the traditional school environment, students can eliminate those scenarios with online high school.

How Does Online High School Work?

Online high schools tend to operate similarly, though there are many small differences that ultimately define each particular school and set it apart from others. Here is a general outline on how online high school works:

  • Build your schedule. When you enroll in your new online school, you’ll receive your class schedule. Plan each day around your classes, accounting for the time you’ll need for lessons, studying, homework, projects, breaks, extracurricular activities, chores, and other activities at home.
  • Start online school. Once all of the above has been accomplished, it’s go time! What can you expect? It all depends on the school. Here’s how Holston Academy sets their new students up for success as they begin online school:
    • Each student is assigned an Academic Coach who develops an Academic Plan for every individual student based on previous courses they’ve taken.
    • Our Education Team reviews the student’s transcripts and assessments and builds a Personalized Learning Plan specific to their academic strengths and opportunities, as well as their interests and future goals. This plan is reviewed with each student and their family before final courses are assigned.
    • Students work with their Academic Coach and teachers to set up regular check-in meetings throughout the school year.

That’s all there is to it! Online high school is easy to begin at the start of a new school year or even by transferring mid-year

Do Colleges Care About Online School?

As more and more high school students leave traditional school for online school, colleges have reacted accordingly. The fact is, just about every college or university will admit online high school graduates based on the same set of standards as traditional high school graduates…with one caveat. Most of these colleges want to know that the student’s online high school education was accredited.

What is accreditation? It’s one of the top considerations when researching academic options. Enrolling in an accredited online high school ensures that students receive a high-quality education that has been accepted nationally and internationally. If you’re not familiar with accreditation, the process ensures that schools meet demanding educational and operational standards, and shows schools, colleges, and universities worldwide that credits were earned through rigorous, standards-based curriculum.

Holston Academy, for example, is accredited by Cognia and WASC and approved by the NCAA, University of California (UC) a-g program, and College Board. Holston Academy is also a California registered private school, meaning that our graduates receive a California private high school diploma. And students who take single courses receive an official transcript upon completion.

Apart from accreditation, most colleges base their admissions on the same criteria no matter where students graduated from high school. Along with academic performance and standardized college exam scores, most colleges are looking at the overall person and their potential to positively represent the university or college. This means students who are involved in extracurricular activities, who volunteer, who have goals and interests, and who are thoughtful and inquisitive learners. These attributes can be conveyed through college applications and essays, transcripts, interviews, and even references. And these–not the name of your high school–are what colleges are looking for in prospective students.

Your high school matters most when it comes to preparing for college as well as the support and counseling students can receive to help them with all that’s involved in planning and applying. At Holston Academy, not only do we prioritize empowering our students with future-ready skills, we also provide college counseling and support through our dedicated Academic Coaches who guide students throughout their online high school journey and help them reach their goals. Now that you’re aware of the many benefits of online high school, learn more about how Holston Academy may be the perfect fit. Visit https://holstonacademy.org/about/approach/ or call us at (833) 782-6922.

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