How Online Summer School Helps Students Catch Up and Get Ahead

It’s summertime, and as the song says, living’s easy—or at least it should be. But when parents and students balance busy schedules, there’s nothing simple about attending in-person summer school. That’s why many caretakers and learners have come to appreciate the benefits of online summer school.

With the ability to schedule around fun and responsibilities, like vacations and summer jobs, plus the freedom to attend from anywhere, online summer school is a flexible solution to help kids catch up or get ahead. This blog covers how summer school works, what to expect from this off-season program, and how to choose the best one for your student.

What is summer school?

Summer school refers to any academic program that takes place during summer break. Students might take it to catch up on topics they fell behind on the previous year, get ahead for the upcoming year, or explore electives not offered at their traditional educational institution.

Unlike regular school, which takes place during pre-set periods, summer school programs often offer rolling enrollment periods, allowing students to get involved at a time that aligns with their summer schedule. Your student can enroll after returning from that fun family vacation you have planned or enroll early and complete summer school before camp begins. With most programs lasting two to four weeks or six to eight weeks, summer school can adapt to your summer plans.

In-Person vs. Online Summer School

Both in-person and online summer school exist with unique pros and cons. Here are some upsides of online summer school:

• Flexibility. Many online summer school programs consist of prerecorded materials and lectures, allowing students to learn at their own pace. This lets students fit summer classes into their busy schedules when it’s most convenient.
• Accessibility. Your young learner can attend online summer school from anywhere—all they need is a laptop and an internet connection. That means your family doesn’t have to cancel that big trip you’ve been looking forward to all year. Your kid can attend classes from the hotel room, vacation rental, or even the car.
• Affordability. Online summer classes are typically reasonably priced because they don’t put the same demands on the instructors and don’t require a brick-and-mortar location.
• Diverse course options. By choosing online summer school, your student is not limited to the courses taught in their town or city. With fewer geographic limitations, your young learner can explore various topics and perspectives.

In-person summer school does still have its benefits, including face-to-face interaction for collaboration, hands-on learning, and tailored instruction. While online programs also offer these benefits, some students prefer in-person learning.

As you can see, both in-person and online summer school have their perks. However, given the busy nature of summer, with vacations, jobs, summer camp, and volunteering, the flexibility of online school is popular for this season.

What happens in summer school?

Every online summer school program is unique. The specifics can vary depending on the topics covered, the ages of the students, the format, and more. However, here are some elements you can expect from most virtual off-season educational courses:

• Learning Management Systems (LMS). An LMS is a centralized platform where students access course materials, including videos, study guides, and quizzes. Many LMS also provide a chat or messaging feature, where students can ask teachers questions or communicate with fellow students. They can also track their progress and revisit materials here. At K12, this is called the K12 Online School (OLS).
• Topic focus. Unlike traditional school, which covers various subjects, summer school programs are often designed to focus on a specific topic or area of education. For example, your child might attend summer school specifically for math, Spanish, or biology.
• Condensed learning. While regular school terms last several months, summer school takes place in short spurts. A summer school program typically ranges from two to eight weeks.

Whether you choose a live or self-paced course, most online summer schools provide access to some form of live support. This might come in the form of virtual office hours, parent-teacher conferences, or one-to-one virtual meetings between the instructor and student to discuss progress.

What’s the point of summer school?

There are several reasons a student might attend a summer school program. For some, summer school allows students to revisit topics they struggled with in the previous year. For others, it’s a chance to get ahead for the upcoming year—and even prepare for college. Here are common reasons students attend online summer school.

Catching Up

If your student ended the school year with lower-than-expected grades, summer school provides an opportunity to fill those learning gaps. Students can:

• Retake failed classes
• Finish incomplete credits
• Reinforce core subjects like math, reading, and science
• Improve their GPA through extra credit work
• Get assistance with major transitions (like from middle to high school)

Don’t panic if your child didn’t end the school year on a high note. Summer school is a second chance to fortify their GPA and enter the new year feeling confident and caught up.

Getting Ahead

Have an ambitious pupil at home? They might enroll in online summer school to enter the upcoming year at the top of their class. Some ways summer school enables this include:

• College prep courses
• AP® courses
• Practice materials and quizzes for next year’s courses
• Electives or extra credit classes
• College application and readiness courses

Summer is a time for recreation and relaxation. But it’s also the ideal time for students to stay ahead of the game.

Who should consider virtual summer school?

Still can’t decide whether or not to enroll your kid in summer school? They might be a great fit for virtual classes over their school break if any of the following sound like them.

Struggling students or those who failed a class

Did your kid not quite grasp a particular subject by the time the school year ended? Maybe they passed a class, but if they received a low grade, they might not be prepared to move on to the next level of that subject. Summer school allows students to gain more confidence in a tricky topic. And, if your kid failed a course, summer school enables them to retake it so they can be up to speed by the fall and up to date on credits.

Motivated learners seeking academic advancement

Have a child who just can’t get enough knowledge? Feed their hunger for learning with summer school! Whether they want to take a class that their regular school doesn’t offer or are ready to advance past their peers, ambitious students can find what they’re looking for in summer school programs.

Students with special circumstances

Life happens. And if a family emergency or health matter pulled your student out of class for prolonged periods during the regular academic year, summer school could be for them. Online summer courses can give kids who have fallen behind due to unforeseen circumstances the chance to get back on track.

Homeschoolers

Have you chosen to homeschool? If you know that a home environment is the best place for your kid to learn, there’s no need to change locations just because it’s summer break. Online summer school allows homeschooled children to continue their education where they feel most comfortable learning.

Students with travel or sports commitments

Whether you have family trips planned or your young athlete is traveling for championships, virtual summer school can be an excellent tool. Being able to learn from anywhere means kids don’t need to miss out on fun or other responsibilities to keep up with academics.

7 Tips for Choosing the Right Online Summer School Program

When you’re ready to enroll your child in summer school, you’ll discover a range of options. If you need help evaluating your choices, here are some tips.

1. Confirm credit transferability.

Communicate with your child’s regular school to ensure the credits from their summer school will transfer over.

2. Look for qualified instructors and academic support.

Ensure that the school you choose has certified instructors who are available to provide the level of support your child needs. This might mean finding a school that offers virtual office hours or one-to-one sessions.

3. Explore curriculum options (core, honors, AP®, electives).

Find a school with the appropriate course options for your student. Some specialize in college prep, while others focus on life skills, and others help kids fortify skills in core subjects. At K12, we offer a range of online summer school courses for students of various ages, aptitudes, and interests.

4. Understand technology requirements and learning platforms.

Confirm that your child has the proper equipment to participate in your chosen online summer school. Some schools require students to have laptops with a specific operating system, Wi-Fi speed, or internet browser. Others might require cameras and microphones for interactive courses.

5. Consider self-paced vs. scheduled classes.

Keep your kid’s summer calendar and aptitude in mind when deciding between self-paced vs. scheduled classes. Children juggling multiple responsibilities, such as a summer job or volunteering, may need a self-paced course that fits into their busy schedule. Others might do best with a live component and will see the best results in scheduled classes.

6. Understand your child’s learning style.

Some classes are one-to-one, while others are group classes. Specific courses rely heavily on at-home, hands-on projects, while others rely entirely on videos and imagery. Think about how your child learns best. Are they a hands-on learner? A visual learner? A solo or group learner? This can help you choose a summer school program built for their success.

7. See if complementary tutoring is available.

If your child needs additional support outside of classes, see if the online institution offers tutoring. That way, your child can be paired with a tutor already familiar with the courses and materials provided by that program.

Ready to catch up or get ahead with online summer learning programs? K12 Can Help

Online summer school lets kids catch up in problem areas, get ahead for the new year, or simply explore subjects not offered during the school year! Plus, its flexible, customizable nature makes online summer school a valuable resource to busy parents and students, who need the ability to adapt their academic efforts to their other summer plans.

To learn about K12’s online summer school options, visit our School Finder for an accredited program. We’re always happy to guide you toward the right program for your child, so contact us if you need help choosing the right online summer school. Don’t let summer learning slide—enroll with K12 today and turn the break into a boost!

FAQs

Want to learn more about summer school options for your kid? We’re always happy to provide helpful information to guide you and your student toward academic success! Find answers to top summer school FAQs below.

Can you do summer school online?

Absolutely! There are numerous online summer school programs that cater to students with different goals, schedules, and learning styles.

How does summer school work for credit recovery or advancement?

Depending on the summer school you select, your child might be able to retake a class they’ve previously failed or take extra credit courses to improve their GPA. For kids ahead of the curve, summer school provides the opportunity to get ahead in the coming year’s material or even prepare for college.

What does summer school do to help students who are struggling academically?

There are a number of ways summer school can support struggling students. Many summer classes focus on a specific topic, so students can strengthen their knowledge in subjects where they tend to struggle. Plus, with self-paced courses, online summer school gives students the chance to learn at their own speed.