Thanks. That sounds pretty accessible (and DD has already read Beowulf and Macbeth, so that might be an advantage for a first course). I think you mentioned that your daughter preferred the online to the text version of the English classes. Do they read the full books and plays, or just excepts? Do they read hard copies of the literature with the web version? I'm getting there, slowly!! Do you usually get the materials shipped directly overseas by LS, or do you get them sent to a US address and forwarded?

PS -- just went on the LS website (duh! why didn't I go straight there?) -- looks like there is a 75% refund if you withdraw in the first 30 days; or 100% can be applied to a different course (though I'm not sure what the restrictions are on that). If anyone else is thinking of trying Indiana, it's pretty straightforward to withdraw or transfer if a course doesn't work out. I have to say I have found them very straightforward to deal with. And it's possible that the English 11 course would have worked for someone coming out of the US education system. I guess it takes a while to get the courses right; I just hope DD doesn't get too frustrated in the process.

CAJinBE, how was the Brit Lit course? Did you DD take the web or text version? I've asked this of the account rep I've been in touch with but haven't heard back you, and you might also know - what happens if you sign your kid up for a course and when you get access to it you realise that the materials and methodology simply aren't going to work? I'm trying to see if we can withdraw from or change the Indiana course. Can you do that with LS within a set time? I was less concerned about the other course because it was a lot less expensive, I could afford to make a mistake! Let's hope everyone in California stays safe, and that the winds die down. What a year!

I got the timing wrong for the open house and missed the start -- the interactive questions worked well, but I'm not sure if there was a presentation at the beginning about how everything works. Also, is the physical school in Ojai? Fires are raging there now! CAJinBE, did either of your DD's take one of the LS Mythology courses? Has anyone's DC done a Shmoop course online? A huge number are U-C approved. I'd also love recommendations for a good, old fashioned, jargon-free, 11th grade English (Lit) course. It's so hard to know what you're getting into when you can't see the materials until you register. Course descriptions don't necessarily reflect the content. I've found couple of demo English courses that have made my eyes cross and made me want to hurl myself out the window.

CAJinBE and Lanny -- what have you done for proctors, and how often do you need them. Is it just for final exams? DD is super shy -- and also embarrassed that she will be taking a different road while her friends at the international and local brick schools are walking a straighter line. I'm sure her current school would let her take exams there (the administration is great, and I've been a parent there for six years), but she won't want to do that. Thanks to you both for all the information. It's giving me a good sense of how these courses work, what I will need to do, as a parent, to support DD, and the practicalities of making LS work for her. The info on grading and gates at LS is really good to know. Lanny, is that the type of feedback your DD is getting through the Texas program? I took a look again last night -- you're a good advertisement for them ;) -- and it's great that your DD has had such a good, long term experience, but I still think there will be too many Texas specific requirements for my DD to cram into two years. I'm not really blinded by the gloss of any of the websites (at least I think not!), and I'm not looking for miracles, but I like the California connection of LS and the variety of what they offer under one roof. But I also agree that it's hard to tell without seeing the materials themselves. With Indiana, I've been able to look at a handful of course introductions and outlines and really like them -- the font is clear (important for these programs), the language accessible without dumbing things down, and there is a real sense of voice and personality from the teachers who have written the introductions. I like it that the university seems to own and feel responsible for the materials. But I also really like the range offered by LS, and think the electronic time keeping might actually be a help, and make DD feel a bit more connected. I looked at Calvert last night and will call them later, but it looks like there is a lot of parent teaching expected, which wouldn't work for us. DD has agreed to try two courses from different places to see which suits her best. That might clarify things. And hopefully we'll be able to get that going soon and she'll feel like she's starting to make progress again.

CAJinBE, thank you so much for describing how the classes work. It's incredibly helpful. Have you found that, even with High School, you need to be around to help? Does your DD need you in the background most days, or was it a matter of being around to help troubleshoot while she was getting used to the technology and methodology during the early, learning curve phase? I work full-time, and though I can arrange to work part of the week from home, I need to be in the office some of the time. @AIiR Yes please! What Lanny said :001_smile: -- any info about Calvert, such as pros, cons, and why your DD transfered would be great. Also, any thoughts on K12 International? A PM is fine if that works better. Lanny. Thanks again for all the digging. I've also seen the negative as well as the positive reviews of LS, but have heard some very good things, of course from CAJinBE, but also from friends of my sister in California -- a number of her friends' kids have used it, though mainly to fill in the occasional course or two. Because we were transferred overseas, we get help with education costs (phew!), so I have the luxury of not having to worry so much about that. But the right fit is important. I'm guessing that with online schooling, like most things, one kid's dream school is another kid's nightmare. Personally, I love the look of Oak Meadow and might choose that for myself, but I think it would drive DD crazy. Right now, she needs structure, and very clear guidelines and expectations. CAJinBE, thanks for the head's up about the open house; I'll do that on Thursday and see if DD can join. DD really wants this to work -- she has her heart set on a university program, so there's some good external motivation!

Thanks all for the thoughtful and helpful responses. I'm so glad to have found this community! Has anyone heard of Calvert out of Baltimore? It was recommended by a friend of a friend.

CAJinBe, your full-time student sounds a lot like mine. Mastering "good enough" is probably what she most needs to learn from school/life! But getting the program right can, I think (hope!), help foster that. I like what you have said about LS teaching mastery -- and giving them opportunities to redo tests or assignments until they get it right. It should help with the all-or-nothing issue with perfectionism. Have either of yours done one of the LS lab classes? They seem to be online only. Do you know if LS students do as Lanny suggested and write out their work and then upload the pdfs? Lisabees -- I don't know how long this has been an issue for your dd. Mine (same age) was at her worst two years ago, when she pretty much withdrew from life for months. Just having to get up and get out of the house and to school every day has been good for her -- which is why I'm worried about her coming out of the bricks and mortar school -- but having missed tenth grade entirely, and now being in senior year at an IB program really is a bridge too far. She's a voracious reader with a curious mind, but self-education doesn't get you into university -- and she does want to go. Lanny, thanks again for all the information. IT sounds like the Texas program has worked really well for your DD. I looked at it, but so late in high school I think there are too many Texas specific requirements. LS and Indiana seem a bit more generic in what they require.

Thanks Lanny. What grade is your DD in, and roughly how much time would you say she spends online vs reading or working with pen and paper? My DD isn't much into screens -- she likes books and ink pens -- but at the same time, it seems to me that a remote program where you are logging in every day and the work is logged online might be easier to stay on top of.

Thanks AliR. I'll take a closer look at K12 International. I had looked at it a few years ago, but my daughter decided to go to a brick school instead. Your point about the transcript is a good one. I'm pretty sure she'll get credit for most of the work she has done, but I also think the difficulty of IB courses is vastly under-rated by non-IB schools and universities (another topic!). How did you choose K12? Is your DD also in high school? CAJinBe, thanks for all the information. It's incredibly helpful. How does your daughter decide whether to take a course online or with a textbook? Has she done that on a course-by-course basis? If the course load is heavy, is it hard for her to make time for other activities? I'm worried that being home all day, every day will get claustrophobic, so am trying to line up some art classes and other activities she can do outside the house.

CAJinBee -- I've been trying to get a sense of how the LS classes work. Do they use text books? Do you have to buy materials? What is the balance, roughly, between time spent on a computer and time working with more traditional books, pens and paper? Did you child find the classes (or at least some of them!) interesting? If you are able to reply by PM, please do. I've heard fairly extreme things -- positive and negative -- about LS but I really like the look of the course offerings. And we're originally from California, so I like it that so many courses meet the UC requirements. That's a big plus for us. Do kids have a chance to redo papers or exams if they do badly, or do they churn out the work and move on? Are instructions clear? Sorry. I really do have a million questions. Lanny. Thanks for all the info and for your kind offer. I'll look more closely at the Texas program tonight and let you know. DD's English is very strong. Other than three years at middle school, she has always been educated in English and it's the only language spoken at home.

Thanks Lisa. The PALCS school looks great, but only for Pennsylvania residents, sadly. How do you find out about a teacher's personality ahead of time from an online school? DD really likes structure -- and I;ve looked at the Indiana textbooks and materials and they seem very solid; maybe not exciting, but that's life. I was thinking she could use Indiana for her core diploma and take some electives with a different programme (there are a handful at Laurel Springs that look interesting, but it's harder to get a handle on their methodology and materials). DD used to be incredibly organised and self-motifvated, so I'm hoping that's still there somewhere! I think it will work if she keeps going with some music and sports; otherwise, being home all days feels like a recipe for disaster.

Thanks all for the suggestions! We live overseas, so there is no support from any state or federal program, and DD will have gaps whichever program she does. She's also likely to have to do an extra year because the anxiety first hit in 10h grade and she missed most of the year. She's ok with tests and exams provided she feels she has the foundation -- but I think part of what she wants to do is to go back and plug some of those tenth grade gaps. Even though she is "gifted" (I know; they all are! but we ran her through testing when she hit the wall in tenth grade), she's not comfortable with taking risks. How does The Virtual High School work? I've just looked quickly and it seems to be something done in conjunction with home schooling or a brick school program. Her current school does the IB, and has not flexibility -- it's the IB or nothing. Her only other option would be to go back into 11th grade now, or repeat 12th grade to see if the familiarity helps her get through, but that feels like a huge risk to me. More importantly, she doesn't want to stick around an extra year. Lisa -- which program did your DD do? Did she homeschool after? Was she willing to work with you? My DD isn't.

Thanks. What or where did you see the negative reviews of LS? Friends in California have said good things about it -- but it was a friends-of-friends situation so I don't know anyone with first hand experience. I like the fact that a number of their courses are UC approved as well as NCAA. DD is in a regular high school, but falls under the "anxious, gifted, perfectionist" umbrella. At the moment she goes to class but does not perform. Dual track with her home school won't work, but maybe she could enrol in one of the more solid online schools for a diploma and take some supplementary courses with another if she wants more variety. She won't work with me, so I need to find a program where the materials are good and clear enough for her to navigate largely on her own. Will look up Texas Tech. I've looked at Nebraska, but the materials for Indiana look better to me. Did you HS your kids? How did they get through??

DD would like to do an online high school for 11th and 12th grades. For various reasons, home schooling isn't an option. Does anyone have any experience of online high school programs, particularly of Indiana University High School or Laurel Springs? Are there any independent assessments of online providers?