High School Courses Offered
(0.5 and 1.0 credit available unless indicated)
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Mathematics |
Social Studies |
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· Pre-Algebra |
· American History |
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· Geometry |
· World History |
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· Algebra I |
· Economics - (0.5 credit only) |
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· Algebra II |
· American Government |
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· Trigonometry - (0.5 credit only) |
· World Geography - (0.5 credit only) |
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· Practical Math - (1.0 credit only) |
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Physical Education |
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English |
· Fitness and Safety |
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College Prep |
· Health |
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· English 9 |
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· English 10 |
Electives |
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· English 11 |
· Spanish I |
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· English 12 |
· Spanish II |
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· American Literature - (1.0 credit only) |
· Intro. to Psychology |
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· Speech - (0.5 credit only) |
· Art History |
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General Studies |
· Music Appreciation - (1.0 credit only) |
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· English 1 |
· Independent Study - (1.0 credit only) |
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· English 2 |
· Web Design |
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· English 3 |
· Tools for Writing - (1.0 credit only) |
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· Business English |
· Career Planning |
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· Stress Management |
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Lab Science |
· Mentorship - (1.0 credit only) |
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· Environmental Science |
· Community Service |
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· Physics |
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· Biology |
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· Chemistry |
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Non-Lab Science |
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· Conceptual Chemistry - (0.5 credit only) |
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· Conceptual Physics - (0.5 credit only) |
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· Anatomy |
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All classes are accredited by C.I.T.A., S.A.C.S.-C.A.S.I, and N.C.A.-C.A.S.I, and are recognized by the U.S.D.O.E. |
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Posted by: editor on March 3, 2010
High School in 3 Hours per Day
Are you interested an alternative to both traditional schools and unsupervised home or online schooling?
- Is your child finding high school unchallenging and uninteresting?
- Are they falling behind academically, and not realizing their full academic potential?
- Do they have a hard time staying organized and completing assignments on time?
- Do they struggle with writing papers, memorization and test taking?
- Are they lacking attention from teachers and administrators?
- Do they crave a calm, predictable, and supportive study environment?
- Do they feel unsafe at school for any reason?
- Do they want to distance themselves from the non-academic distractions which exist in modern high schools?
- Would they benefit from a personalized curriculum, self-paced classes and as-needed tutoring?
- Are they interested in a school flexible schedule that allows time part and full time employment?
Operating since 2002, Independent Education provides an alternative high school environment which makes success possible for most all students.
Students receive supervision, guidance, as-needed tutoring and a customized curriculum designed to meet their individual needs. With few exceptions, our classes are online and self-paced. Our coursework is accredited both regionally and nationally. Graduating students receive an accredited high school diploma, not a G.E.D.
Students can choose between our full time program if they are interested in attending community or four year colleges, and our short term early graduation program if they are interested in attending technical school. Graduating high school students can take advantage of our transitions program which supervises their application and enrollment in colleges of their choice.
Our office facility provides computers, printers, and other basic school supplies to our students, which is included in the low monthly fee. Students study fifteen hours per week, attending during morning study between 9:00 and 12:00 or afternoon study between 1:00 and 4:00. Additional study hours may be available for certain interested students.
Enrollment is limited to 14 morning students and 14 afternoon students. We maintain a rolling admissions policy. We have a five to one student to teacher ratio.
Posted by: editor on February 26, 2010
High School Different than You’ve Ever Known
High school students no longer need to attend traditional brick and mortar schools in order to earn accredited diplomas. Online curriculum providers such as Compuhigh and K-12 allow them to get regionally and nationally accredited diplomas that are recognized at most all colleges in Universities throughout the United States. Students seeking to move on to technical and vocational training can obtain a test based high school diploma in a relatively short time through programs such as Continental Academy.
While some students are capable of keeping up with the assignments and time deadlines associated with taking high school classes online, others benefit greatly from the accountability provided by an online high school learning center such as Independent Education.
Our office provides students with the oversight, guidance, and one on one tutoring they need to take full responsibility for their own academic success. Attending fifteen hours per week or three hours per day, students are able to stay on top of their high school work and get help with more complex subjects. Additionally, Independent Education coaches students through the college application process, and assists with practical matters such as drivers’ licenses, resume creation and job searching.
Students seeking an alternative to high school will find it at Independent Education. We also consult with families interested in home schooling their high school age children.
Posted by: editor on February 3, 2010
Solid Substitute for Homebound Programs
Independent Education offers a small office environment where students can complete their coursework online at both the high school and college level. Our flexible schedules allow students to come and go as needed.
Homebound students such as expectant mothers who have left high school early to raise their children can complete their schoolwork at our private offices in a number of months and receive their diplomas.
Many young mothers make a split second decision to stop or delay their high school education in order to raise their children. Through the use of our offices though, these students receive the support and direction to follow a part-time school schedule (3 hours per day, 3 to 5 days per week).
Their studying soon results in completing their entire high school work and receiving an accredited diploma. With this diploma, students have the freedom to enroll in college and continue their education at an appropriate time.
Posted by: editor on January 6, 2010
Fall’s End & Holiday Activity
We are concluding another semester at Independent Education and are happy to say that all of our students have passed their college classes at Valencia Community College with average and above average grades.
This holiday season, we are chaperoning several activities with our clients that happened to be organized under the themes of service and ice.
On Monday, December 21, several students volunteered to do a clean up at the Russell Home’s thrift store in downtown Orlando. All proceeds from the store go to help fund the Russell Home, a non-profit group housing severely handicapped children that has operated in central Florida for over fifty years.
On Monday, December 28, our students will be ice skating outdoors in Florida, a virtual Christmas miracle, at the rink which the city of Winter Park set up in the Park Avenue commons.
On Wednesday, December 30, in keeping with our “frozen water in Florida” theme, students will be travelling to the annual ice sculpture show at the Gaylord Palms resort and conference center in Orlando. The aptly named show, Ice, boasts over two million pounds of handcrafted ice sculptures carved by 38 artisans from Harbin, China.
The new year will see the kids returning to service based work when they travel to Lakeland, Florida for a dayof grounds clean up at the Florida Baptist Children’s Home. Unfortunately, the children in the home will have already returned to school by that time and will not have a chance to meet the Independent Education students. Nevertheless, many of the kids are eager to do the landscape and painting work that awaits them at the home.
During the week starting January 4, our students will be picking up books, and mapping out the study/work/domestic/socialization schedules they will be following this spring. College classes resume promptly on Monday, January 11.
Dan and the staff at Independent Education wish all of you a wonderful holiday season. See you in 2010!
Posted by: editor on December 22, 2009
Legitimately Finish High School in Under One Year
If you are fourteen years and older, you can graduate up to three years early from high school.
The online coursework and early graduation assessment services provided at Independent Education allow students to leave their high schools and complete remaining coursework in a professional office with supervision and one on one tutoring. Computers and basic school supplies are provided for students. Our students complete their coursework inside a calm, quiet professional office in an environment free from distraction.
Who is a good candidate for early graduation?
Students fourteen and older who are interested in exiting high school early.
Students seeking to enter the work world ahead of their peers.
Students unsatisfied with their present high school experience.
Advanced students bored with high school seeking the challenge of college.
Average students wanting to get ahead in their academic process.
Single mothers unable to attend high school.
Struggling students who have fallen behind and want to catch up with their peers.
Learning disabled students with difficulty concentrating in crowded classrooms.
Adults seeking high school diplomas in order to pursue college.
Adults looking to get their high school diplomas for personal or employment reasons.
How long does the early graduation program take?
The early graduation program typically takes between one and six months to complete all degree requirements and receive an accredited high school diploma. There are no time limits or deadlines regarding how long students take to get through their courses. Most students can complete all 24 subjects in less than three months by studying three hours per weekday.
Is the diploma accredited, and will it be accepted by colleges?
Graduating students receive accredited high school diplomas, not GED’s. All degrees are accredited by both the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA), two well known accreditation associations recognized and accepted by most all colleges in the United States and other world nations.
Can I get credit for high school classes I’ve already taken?
Students will receive course equivalent credit for prior classes that directly match our graduation requirements. Students do not have to retake requirements which have been met via transfer credit. Prior classes that do not directly match graduation requirements are only awarded elective credit.
What are the courses like?
The twenty four required courses represent a condensed high school curriculum covering the basic elements of standard high school classes. Each course comes with a study guide containing all information necessary to complete assignments and pass the assessment. Students complete several assignments followed by an assessment based on contents of the study guides.
Can I redo assignments, assessments and courses if I do poorly the first time through?
All assignments, assessments, and courses can be attempted an unlimited number of times in order to achieve mastery and passing grades without penalty or extra tuition charges.
Will I be missing out on important learning by graduating early?
Many subjects covered in high school are required courses at colleges. Additionally, most community colleges offer high school equivalency courses in the areas of math, reading and composition. Students needing refreshment skills in these areas can take all needed classes at local colleges. Most two and four year colleges have core curriculums requiring students to take roughly two semesters of English Composition, Math, Science, History/Humanities, Politics/Sociology, and Foreign Languages. Often these classes are only slightly more difficult than the same subjects as taught in high schools.
Posted by: editor on November 18, 2009
FPEA 2010 Conference in Orlando, May 27 -29
The Florida Parent Educators Association represents one of the largest organizations of home school families and students in the country. Each year in late spring, they host a major convention which draws thousands of families and students looking to participate in the statewide graduation ceremony.
The convention includes seminars on many issues which home school students and families encounter along the alternative education highway. Additionally, the convention plays host to hundreds of home school related product and curriculum vendors as well as local schools which cater to home school students of all ages and their families.
The 2010 convention is being hosted once again in Orlando. It will take place at the Rosen Shingle Creek resort from May 27 – 29.
Posted by: editor on November 9, 2009
I.E. Article Co-opted by Local Papers
Local newspapers the Seminole Voice and East Orlando Sun have both borrowed Matthew Morrison’s article (featured in our September 18 post below) about Independent Education and published it in their papers.
Posted by: editor on October 21, 2009
Channel 9 Newscast
Our August open house attracted various local news organizations resulting in a brief television spot on WFTV Orlando, Channel 9’s evening news. The story discusses how the use of online education in public schools can actually save the county thousands of dollars per student. The cost difference between a full time online high school student and one in the traditional classroom is roughly $ 3,000.
With studies consistently showing that online education is more effective than face to face teaching, we are assured that little if any academic quality would be lost by expanding the scale of online. education. The money saved through the computerized curriculums could be put towards arts and athletics programs which have suffered major cuts in the last years due to local and national tightening of education budgets.
Posted by: editor on October 16, 2009
NY Times Explores Benefits of Online Education
The New York Times published a recent write up about the superiority of online classes to traditional classrooms after reading the results of a twelve year investigation of the subject. The September 19, 2009 article written by Steve Lohr outlining results from a major study conducted by SRI International for the US Department of Education appeared online. The study concludes average online students tested in the 59th percentile while average classroom students tested in the 50th percentile on their relative subjects.
The investigation which took place between 1996 and 2008, surprised many people who assumed that students taking online classes were missing out on essential information that can only be gained from the classroom experience.
The study suggests a major increase the use of online curriculum in the near future as technology continues to improve. The widespread use of online video allows high quality audio-visual content to play a major role in online coursework of all levels, while social networking, blog and email formats create user-friendly environments for group and discussion work among students.
The study pointed to a future where students could help one another learn subject matter such as Algebra or Environmental Science online while classroom time could be spent learning how to apply the abstract knowledge from academic subjects to real world situations.
At Independent Education, we have successfully used correspondence and online coursework for years in an effort to streamline the academic efforts of high school and college students. Our students typically master their subject matter in less time than classroom students, and often find time in their schedules to keep part-time jobs.
Posted by: editor on October 2, 2009
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