Myth #6 - Online high school students do less work than traditional students.

Online students may finish their work faster than traditional students, but that doesn’t mean they’re doing less. Consider the interruptions in a traditional school day: breaks, transition periods, busy work, waiting for other students to catch up, teachers trying to quiet down the class. If there were some way to take out those interruptions and just let students focus on their work, they’d probably finish in about the same time it takes online learners to complete their assignments. Of course, this isn’t an absolute and the amount of work can vary between online schools. Some may offer a lighter load and others may challenge students with even more work than traditional schools.

Myth #7 - Students who earn credits online won’t be able to transfer them to traditional high schools.

As long as the online high school is accredited, the credits should be able to transfer to a traditional high school. Sometimes credits don’t transfer because the traditional high school has different graduation requirements than the online school. In this case, the credits don’t transfer because the traditional school has nowhere to record them, not because the online school isn’t being recognized. The same issue can be a problem when students try to transfer credits between two traditional high schools.

Myth #8 - Distance learning students don’t get enough physical activity when they take classes online.

Most online schools require that students complete a physical education requirement in order to graduate. Many distance learning students also participate in community sports teams and other athletic activities. Some traditional schools even make exceptions allowing local distance learning students to participate in school sports programs.

Myth #9 - Distance learning students can’t participate in extracurricular activities.

It’s true that most online students will miss out on prom. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t have access to exciting, worthwhile activities. Some online schools organize social outings for students. With special permission, many traditional high schools will allow local students to participate in specific activities while continuing their studies elsewhere. Online students can also become involved in community clubs, classes, and volunteerism.

Myth #10 - Online high schools are just for teenagers.

Adults looking to get their high school diplomas are welcome to participate in many online high school programs. Distance learning schools are often convenient for adults who hold jobs and can only complete assignments during certain hours. Some schools even have programs created specifically for mature students.