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Mia: I switched to online school to seek more support educationally. I was also looking to get away from some of the toxicity I experienced in my traditional school. I struggled a lot with focus issues, not getting good grades, and a few students who were bothering me.
Meet Mia
Mia is a bright and ambitious 11th grade student who is passionate about learning and her future career in medical science. K12-powered online high school provides her with opportunities to explore internships and other professional connections.
Why This Family Chose K12
Mom and Learning Coach Margarita speaks Spanish with her family at home, so it helps that K12 provides an engaged school community with bilingual teachers, other Spanish-speaking families, and resources to support her. Now the whole family can be involved in Mia’s educational journey.
Find a supportive and inclusive learning environment
Mia wanted a positive learning environment that rejects bullying and supports the success of all students. Online school offers a welcoming community.
Discover a unique learning experience
Mia’s one-to-one learning experience helps her focus and boosts her confidence. Her grades improve year over year, and she feels like she can truly be herself.
Thrive with confidence
Mia makes friends through leadership opportunities and internships. Supported by a positive online environment, she thrives academically and personally.
Flexible Schedule With Live Class Anchors
Schoolwork for Mia is a mix of scheduled, live online classes, self-guided assignments she can complete at her own pace, and career-specific courses like medical terminology.
A benefit of schools powered by K12 is that the educational materials—a computer, textbooks, supplies for offline activities, and more—are provided.
Curriculum
The number of classes students take varies per grade level and individual. For example, students in 11th grade, like Mia, typically take between 3–6 subjects each semester, with maybe 2–3 of them requiring scheduled, live classes.
In addition to core academic subjects, there’s a great selection of career-related electives, including the healthcare courses Mia enjoys.
The Parent Experience as a Learning Coach
At K12-powered schools, parents (or other responsible adults) act as Learning Coaches for their students. Certified teachers lead class instruction and Learning Coaches typically spend 1–3 hours each day with high school students, providing guidance and oversight. Mia works independently, but her mom and Learning Coach Margarita is nearby if she needs help.
Teacher Support, Communication, and Representation
Mia’s found a supportive community, and for the first time, she has Latina teachers she can relate to. She’s no longer afraid to ask questions and has found her voice. And so has her mom. Margarita is engaged and part of the school community with the bilingual teachers and resources for Spanish speakers.
Time away from the computer looks like …
Extracurriculars and Clubs
Another benefit of Career and College Prep is the variety of clubs available. Mia’s a leader in her school’s SkillsUSA chapter, which happens to be the first in her state and now has more than 100 members. Mia developed confidence, leadership, and public speaking skills through her work in the club.
Building Skills for the Future
Career and College Prep is more than specific courses in certain fields. Students can also receive industry certification exam prep and career guidance. Mia is already certified in CPR and AED, and she’s working toward her medical assisting certification. These credentials will give her an advantage with potential employers and college admissions. Plus, her career coach helped her create a professional resume to highlight her skills and experience.
Family Q&A
Mia: I can really be myself and have more control over my education. My grades bumped up my first year, and so did my confidence. I had one-to-one learning with my teachers, which helped me a lot. I finally learned that I was smart and could do many things. Plus, the bullying wasn’t an issue anymore.
Mia: The teachers, specifically my healthcare teacher, made the transition easy. She was a great teacher and communicator, and she spent time forming bonds with her students.
Mia: My teachers have been great. My healthcare teacher is my favorite. She taught me healthcare explorations, health sciences, and anatomy and physiology. I’m also very fond of my school counselor, who guided me through online school since my first year of high school. She’s more like a friend now.
Mia: At home, we only speak Spanish, so having bilingual teachers and counselors has helped my mom be even more involved in my education. She can ask more questions about things like scholarships and speak more freely with the team at my online school.
Mia: I think I’ve gained more friends in online school than before, thanks to leadership experiences and job opportunities I’ve participated in.
Mia: K12 has several tools that are available with Spanish translation. Interested and enrolled families can access the information on K12.com, the Parent Portal, the K12 App, and customer support in Spanish to help them navigate those sites and find answers to frequently asked questions.
Mia: One of the benefits of K12-powered school is that the engaging curriculum is hands-on and includes materials for offline activities—all as part of the tuition-free education experience.
Mia: I would say go for it. It’s such a great opportunity, and you can express yourself without being judged. You get a lot of support at online school, like an entourage of support. If, for example, they’re worried about discrimination, I can say that wasn’t an issue for me at my online school.
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Learning With K12
From kindergarten to high school, K12 provides tuition-free online education that empowers students to learn in ways that work for them. Browse options in your state to find the perfect fit for your family.
These are the stories of real students attending K12-powered schools and their families. Content is a combination of direct quotes and summaries from interviews. Their stories each reflect their experiences at their respective schools. Actual experiences can vary by student and school. These pages are designed to reflect a typical day in the life of a student attending an online K12-powered school. Individual class schedules and requirements will vary by state, school, and the individual needs of each student.