With the school year about half over, some Utah students (and their parents) might just be realizing they lack the credits necessary to graduate with their class. It's not an uncommon problem.

While most of Utah’s students complete their K-12 education, 13% do not. At 87 percent, Utah’s graduation rate is lower than the national average of 90 percent.

For students discouraged about their ability to catch up and complete, there’s hope: Utah Online School is a free (or low cost), convenient way to add or make up credits, supplement your public school education, catch up with your peers and/or finish high school.

Regardless of your current situation, you’ve got a second (or third, or fourth) chance at success with Utah Online School.

Don't miss educational opportunities

No one likes to be left behind — particularly when it comes to opportunity. If you’re not on track to graduate on time, post-graduation plans like college or other training are in jeopardy. And when you have more credits to make up than you have time to take them, it’s easy to enter panic mode.

Don’t fret. With Utah Online School, you can make up credits while staying enrolled in your district school. In fact, credit recovery is one of the school’s key focuses, with students able to recover as many courses as possible in a single quarter for a $50 flat fee. And with a wealth of course options, from honors to electives and driver’s education, there’s something to fill every credit need.

Over a year ago, a concerned mother contacted Utah Online School because her son did not have enough credits to participate in his scheduled graduation. Using the Utah Online School credit recovery program and working day and night, this student graduated on time and with his class — something neither the student nor his mother thought possible.

Another student was hoping to graduate early last December. But with a hectic work schedule, he got behind and failed his courses. He was discouraged and didn’t know if he’d graduate at all. With the help of his grandmother, he enrolled in the UOS credit recovery program and was able to graduate with his class.

Skip the crowded classrooms

Everyone learns differently. For some, sharing the classroom with dozens of students (some less distracting than others) can be a challenge. According to the Utah State Board of Education, class sizes in secondary schools continue to grow each year, with the average for district secondary schools at 30 students in October 2017.

Utah Online School provides go-at-your-own-pace online learning, with special help available for those who need it. Enrolled students can contact their teachers, attend open tutoring hours or watch help videos coordinating with their current course or lesson.

Use online classes to graduate early

Utah Online School isn’t just for students who have fallen behind and need to recover credits. It can also help students who want to get a jump start on high school graduation. One parent explains: "Ryan has always enjoyed challenging himself with moving ahead in courses. Last year as we were planning for his junior year he realized that if he kept up with the pace he was going he could graduate a year early. However, the more thought he put into it, he decided he wanted to graduate a year and a half early. He continued with rigorous courses that will help him with college entry. He recently completed all high school requirements and is a high school graduate after the first semester of his junior year."

This year Utah Online School will also have its first sophomore graduate high school. After a student took an initial online course and saw she could put in the time and then finish the class quickly, she came up with a plan for early graduation. After discussing her plan with Utah Online School, she felt confident that she could do it and she is on track in all of her courses to graduate this May as a sophomore!

Educational and scheduling flexability

The school year can get pretty hectic. Between your academic load, extracurricular activities, sports participation and social calendar, you might be scrambling just to hand in your English paper on time. By enrolling in online courses, you’re taking a proactive approach to your education.

In an online setting, students have the flexibility to set a schedule that works for them by enrolling full time or part-time, depending on their needs. A teen can reduce a hectic schedule by opting for an online course in place of a traditional class, which can often benefit parents as well.

“Online classes are a great way to reduce class hours for students who can't be to school at 7 a.m. (or) for parents who have transportation or scheduling issues,” says Laura Belnap, director of Utah Online School.

Get a head start with summer learning

Summer school can be a drag, especially when a rigid schedule interferes with seasonal jobs, extracurricular activities, family vacations and, well, fun. Online education is the perfect solution for students who want to use summer school to get ahead or to catch up.

For some, graduating early can be advantageous for schooling or employment plans. Summer courses or supplemental school-year courses through Utah Online School can empower you to move your graduation date forward. If you’re an athlete, musician, thespian or have another hobby that requires your time, completing credits online during the summer months can lighten your load come fall, opening your schedule for elective courses or to pursue your passion.

With courses available to complete at your own pace and on your own schedule, there’s no either/or when it comes to summer learning. That means you still have time for soccer camp, a morning job at the snow cone shack or that family trip to Hawaii.

ACT prep on your time

Not happy with your ACT score? If you could use a second chance on your college admissions test, you’re not alone. According to the ACT’s Condition of College & Career Readiness Report, only 39% of 2017 high school graduates met the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks in at least three of the four core subject areas tested.

Make sure you’re ready for your college entrance exam — and college — by supplementing your education with Utah Online School courses. Offering a free ACT prep course, UOS empowers students to achieve a great ACT score or improve their current score. The course offers blueprints for each ACT section as well as individual feedback and help.

Your education is in your hands. Get a second (or third) chance at success with Utah Online School.

Related topics