High School Diplomas via Distance Education

I just finished watching a news story about a woman who is studying for a H.S. Diploma via distance education. The story can be read here http://www.newschannel9.com/vnews/consumer/1020812980/ and she is attending James Madison High School in Norcross, Georgia .

The local authority who started this inquiry questioned the acceptance of a diploma recieved this way by employers and colleges. The school is accredited by SACS and DETC I believe.

What is your opinion on acceptance of diplomas earned in programs like these? Should there be a forum for people needing information on this topic?

 

There are a number of quality DL opportunities for a high school diploma. As I'm from Indiana, I know of Indiana University High School. It is fully accredited, and one can earn his high school diploma entirely by DL. I believe many home-schooled students avail themselves of this avenue.

http://scs.indiana.edu/hs/hsd.html

Craig

 

I believe BYU has a High School program also.

I knew a guy in the army who had a GED and was going to do a DL distance High School program (ICS/Newport High School) because he felt there was a negative stigma to the GED. He wanted to put down that he had a High School diploma.

North

 

James Madison High School is accredited by DETC.

After reading the article, I'm mostly surprised at the writer's lack of research skills. Most of what he passes off as fact is innuendo. My guess (and, yes, it's a guess because I do not believe there has been a study done on the acceptability of DETC-accredited high school diplomas) based on talking with several college and university admissions folks (as part of my research for the forthcoming "Bears' Guide to Earning a High School Diploma Nontraditionally") is that they would accept new students with such a diploma.

Most would also accept students who went to private unaccredited high schools or who were homeschooled. It's such a different situation than at the university level (because it has to be).



Tom Nixon

 

Re: Re: High School Diplomas via Distance Education

I would venture to say that an accredited DL high school diploma would be more highly regarded than a home-school diploma--though likely either one would be of a more serious nature than many public high schools with their social promotion policies.

Craig

 

Forget high school only...Ohio has been supporting the K-12 TRECA Digital Academy for the past year. It is a pretty good deal for Ohio residents who might otherwise homeschool. It is a tuition-free public school and all incoming students receive the necessary technology, including an iMac computer, for free. While admitedly not for everyone, I can't see how completing studies through TRECA could be considered anything but legitimate, especially when compared to homeschooling (which seems very popular these days in this part of the country). The school is supported by a consortium of school districts located mainly NE of Columbus and hires only certified teachers. As online education expands on all levels, it is going to become difficult for higher education to ignore graduates of programs such as this one.

Jeff