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A day in the life of online public school for Mia and Margarita (mom and Learning Coach).

Favorite Subjects: Medical Science, IT
Hobbies: Cooking Honduran Food

Why K12?

Mia wanted an option where she would have more support at school, an environment where she could be free from bullying and focus on building her future. She’s earning certifications and developing skills at her K12-powered high school that will transfer to her career in healthcare after graduation.

Live Classes and Assignments

Mia’s schoolwork is a mix of scheduled, live classes called Class Connect sessions and self-guided offline assignments and activities that can be done more at her own pace.

A typical day may have her starting with a live medical terminology class, led by her state-certified teachers, and then math worksheets for dividing polynomials and reading for British Literature on her own later in the day. If she gets stuck at, her mom, Margarita (also her Learning Coach), is there to help, or she can ask the teachers questions in the live classes, via email, or during weekly office hours.

A benefit of schools powered by K12 is that the educational materials—a computer, textbooks, supplies for offline activities, and more—are provided as part of your tuition-free enrollment.

Student Schedule

Learning Coaches typically spend between 1 to 3 hours each day with 11th grade and other high school students providing guidance and oversight.

Part of the goal is to help students become more independent learners to prepare them for high school and beyond.

Schedule

Daily Schedule

Class Schedule

Q & A with Mia

Why did you switch to online school?

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.

Stride Career Prep

In addition to her regular classes, Mia is part of Stride Career Prep, taking healthcare-specific courses like anatomy and physiology, health sciences, and healthcare explorations. She’s also earning industry certifications, making plans with the help of her success coach, and is a leader in her school’s SkillsUSA chapter.

Mia got interested in healthcare after her mom developed a neurological disease. She says Stride Career Prep gives her insight into how the medical field really works; it’s quite different from what we see on television. Her computer literacy course also exposed her to careers at the intersection of medicine and technology. She wants to become a flight surgeon—in space! And if becoming a doctor for astronauts doesn’t work out, she wants to be an orthopedist.

Q & A with Mia

Why do you like online school?

I can really be myself in online school and have more control over my education. My grades bumped up my first year, and so did my confidence.

Even though there were a bunch of other students in the classroom, I felt like 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 for me anymore.

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 those requiring scheduled, live classes.

The other subjects are completed via self-guided assignments and skills labs in the K12 interactive online learning system.

In addition to core academic subjects like English, math, science, and social studies, K12-powered schools have a great selection of electives, including career exploration and field-specific courses like Mia takes in healthcare and computer literacy.

Classes schedules may vary considerably based on the individual student and their needs, state, and any special programs.

SEE HOW OUR CURRICULUM IS DEVELOPED

Q & A with Mia

How was the transition to online school?

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’s time away from the computer looks like …

Cooking her family’s favorite Honduran dishes in the kitchen, playing with her dog, and researching NASA programs she’d like to apply to in the future.

Teacher Support, Communication and Representation

Mia lacked support at her traditional school; unfortunately, sometimes, it felt like that was related to her being a Latina student. With online school, she’s found a supportive community, and for the first time, she has Latina teachers and school staff she can relate to. She’s no longer afraid to ask questions and has found her voice.

It was also harder for Mia’s mom to be involved with her education at her old school because of the language barrier. Now though, Margarita is engaged and part of the school community with the bilingual teachers and resources for Spanish speakers.

Q & A with Mia

How do the teachers support you?

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’s guided me through online school since my freshman year. She’s more like a friend now.

Extracurriculars and Clubs

Another benefit of Stride Career Prep is the variety of career clubs available. Mia is an active leader in her online school’s SkillsUSA chapter.

SkillsUSA is a student-led organization focused on improving workforce skills. Mia developed confidence, leadership, and public speaking skills through her work with the club. She’s served as vice president and president of the chapter, which happens to be the first in her state and now has more than 100 members.

SEE EXTRACURRICULARS AND EVENTS

Q & A with Mia

How does your family support you with school?

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.

Building Skills For The Future

Stride Career Prep is more than career-based courses. Students can also receive industry certification exam prep and guidance from success coaches. Mia is already CPR and AED certified, and she’s working toward her medical assisting certification before graduation.

Certification exam prep is part of the healthcare pathway and helps students like Mia get a head start in their careers. Her medical certifications can give her an advantage with potential employers and college admissions. Plus, her success coach has helped her create a professional resume, talk through career options, and more.

Q & A with Mia

Do you have any advice for students who might be considering online school?

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.

More Q & A with Mia

How do you keep up with your friends doing online school?

I think I’ve gained more friends in online school than before, thanks to leadership experiences and job opportunities I’ve participated in. I stay connected with my friends and family through group chats and video calls. Thank goodness we have all this cool technology. We can see each other without being in person.

Are there resources available to help Spanish speakers?

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.

Are the educational materials for classes provided?

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.