Category All Art Classes Classical Music Concerts DANCE Etc Exhibits Families Farmers Markets Film Happenings Holiday Holiday Lectures Music (non-classical) Theater

Submit events

PHOTO BY CLARE JENSEN

ON THE ROAD. Twins Samual and Stefanie McCallister of Tacoma enjoy the freedom and flexibility of online schooling, as they often study on the road in their family’s RV.

Online school offers freedom, challenges for students

By Clare Jensen

There is a new school in town, and starting this week it will be invading the homes of nearly 300 students across the state.

The IQ Academy is an online middle and high school, which was founded in Wisconsin five years ago. The academy is launching its first year in Washington and families, including many from Tacoma, have chosen the Internet as their path to graduation.

Lisa McClure, director of IQ Academy, said families enroll in the school for a variety of reasons, from having more flexibility, higher academic challenges or dissatisfaction with traditional public schools.

Stefanie and Samual McCallister decided to go online a couple of years ago for a combination of those reasons. The 15-year-old twins opted to join the Evergreen School District’s previous online program because of a newfound desire to get into acting, which took the family to California for six weeks one school year.

Instead of enrolling the children in California for six weeks and transferring back into Franklin Pierce School District when their trip was over, father Ronald McCallister looked into other options.

Since then, Samual and Stefanie say they have found countless benefits to their online school, and were looking forward to making the switch to the IQ Academy this week because of the school’s increased elective and advanced placement options.  

McClure noted that the flexibility of the academy, and the ability for students to work at their own pace, are two of the biggest draws to the academy. If a student wants to work at night or on the weekend, they can. If they finish a subject quicker than their peers, they can move on to the next assignment.

That is one of the things Stefanie said she finds the most beneficial. As a student who was often bored at her traditional middle school, she likes the fact that she can move as quickly as she pleases, not having to wait for her classmates to move on.

“You’re the one who’s driving…you’re not stuck on the bus with the other kids. You can make all your own stops…and possibilities,” she said.

The online schooling has also allowed the McCallisters to continue to pursue their interests in modeling and acting, as they are not required to show up to a physical classroom Monday through Friday.

McClure stated that the IQ Academy requires a student to manage their time independently, which may be challenging for some but is a real-life skill students will need post-high school. Online coursework also forces students to be actively participating in learning, otherwise they fail.

“An online student actually has to be engaged and involved, not just sitting passively in the back of a classroom,” McClure said. “A student can really thrive in this environment.”

According to McClure, the IQ Academy offers an award-winning curriculum, which is “challenging, interactive and engaging.”

She said the data they have received from the oldest academy in Wisconsin is promising.

Students in the IQ Academy outscore students in traditional schools in districts across the state. She has also seen high graduation and successful college enrollment rates.

“We’re very proud of the work the students have done online,” she said.

The students get regular interaction with online instructors, have a “live” lecture each week, and take proctored tests on a regular basis.

If they need extra help on something tough, they can set up tutoring times with instructors on the virtual “white board” or head to the library for help there as well.

IQ Academy is a tuition-free public school program offered through Evergreen School District based out of Vancouver, Wash. Families and students interested in the academy can contact it directly to transfer from their present district. Enrollment is open through Sept. 12. For more information on the IQ Academy, visit their website at www.iqacademywa.net, or call (888) 899-iQWA.

Story Tools