FAQ

General
Application & Enrollment
Online Learning & Technology
Courses & Instruction
Diploma & Graduation

General

Is iSucceed Virtual High School really tuition-free?

Yes! Because iSucceed is a public high school, we operate under the same state guidelines as traditional public high schools. This means we receive the same funding as a traditional school and no tuition is required.

Is the school accredited?

iSucceed Virtual High School is accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC).

Northwest Accreditation Commission is “The premier accreditation agency for distance education and travel education schools. The mission of NWAC is to advance excellence in education through the process of accreditation.” www.northwestaccreditation.org. iSucceed is authorized by the Idaho Public School Charter Commission.

Application and Enrollment

What are the location and age restrictions?

Students must be residents of the state of Idaho and must be 20 years of age or younger when they enroll. Students who turn 21 while enrolled and need additional education in order to receive a diploma may remain enrolled until they meet the graduation requirements or the end of the semester, whichever occurs first. Students must also be able to demonstrate completion of the eighth grade through official transcript or homeschool portfolios.

Do students have to start in the 9th grade?

Since iSucceed Virtual High School tailors the learning experience to meet the needs of each individual student, incoming students are assured a comfortable “experience that fits” no matter when they switch to iSucceed. Students may begin in the 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade, but must complete a minimum number of credits to earn their diploma from iSucceed Virtual High School.

Can students enroll and begin classes at any time of the year?

Students can submit an enrollment application anytime during the year, but must start iSucceed courses at the beginning of the semester.

What is the status of my application?

All applications are currently being reviewed by iSucceed Virtual High School. They are date and time-stamped and you will be contacted in the order in which your application was received.

What can I do to improve my chances of acceptance?

iSucceed Virtual High School makes every attempt to admit all qualified applicants. If you have a special situation that is of concern, we invite you to call and speak with an enrollment advisor toll-free at 855-375-3116.

When will I know whether I’ve been accepted?

As soon as we’ve received all the required enrollment information and documents and your courses are selected and approved by an academic counselor, we will let you know right away that you have been accepted.

How many students will get into the school?

iSucceed Virtual High School is a public school, thus all students who wish to enroll are admitted subject only to capacity and the geographic and age restrictions listed above. If there are more applicants than capacity, admission shall be determined by a public, random drawing.

I’ve been expelled. Will I get into iSucceed Virtual High School?

Each case will be reviewed based upon records from your current or former school district. As a public school, iSucceed Virtual High School will evaluate and may honor current expulsions from another district on a case-by-case basis.

Can I attend part-time?

Students must take a minimum of five iSucceed Virtual High School classes, which is full-time status.

What are the terms of Dual-Enrollment?

iSucceed Virtual High School full-time students may NOT be dually-enrolled in credit courses at other public high schools or private schools. Credit from accredited post-secondary institutions will be recognized by iSucceed as credit earned toward graduation requirements.

Online Learning & Technology

How does iSucceed Virtual High School differ from other high school programs?

iSucceed Virtual High School is different because it brings a tuition-free individualized high school experience within your reach in an online environment. It meets today’s high school students right where they already are: online. It’s a public high school offering a rigorous curriculum, experienced state-certified teachers who know how to inspire, and a diploma recognized by colleges and universities nationwide–all through a program designed around each student’s goals, needs and learning style. Both students and parents have access to our teachers and academic advisers so everyone can see progress, together.

We support online students and their parents in ways other schools don’t:

• Our teachers and academic advisers help explore your goals, develop online learning strategies, and suggest solutions to challenges that hinder success.
• Leading-edge technology
• Academic and technical support
• A highly individualized program with multiple academic paths
• A nationally-recognized curriculum
• A wide array of courses, including foundation, core, credit recovery, and electives

Do I need to have a computer to attend iSucceed Virtual High School?

iSucceed students are outfitted with all of the equipment they will need to succeed, which includes a school-issued laptop and printer for full-time students.

Who is responsible for ink/toner replacement for the printers?

iSucceed Virtual High School will provide full-time students with a starter set of ink/toner with the initial printer shipment. It is then the responsibility of the family for future ink/toner replacement.

What are the Internet connection requirements for a student to have a satisfactory class experience?

The minimum connection requirement for students who attend our schools is dial-up speed. Faster transmission speeds and more powerful computing platforms will provide a richer experience—but are not required. We offer technical assistance to help and students and families choose the best internet connection for their situation.

When will my computer arrive? How will I get it?

Your laptop computer will be shipped to you before the start of school orientation and the semester.

How do you protect against cyber predators?

iSucceed Virtual High School realizes that online learning can raise fears about online predators. That’s why we make our online classrooms password-protected and secure. Our laptops are equipped with software to help prevent access to inappropriate sites. We encourage parental involvement and partner with both students and parents to keep and maintain a safe online learning experience. Strong parenting coupled with educating students of the risks of online predators remains vital and essential. Our program encourages students to socialize online behind safe ‘doors’.

Courses & Instruction

Can students earn dual credits while attending iSucceed?

Contact your academic counselor to find out about discounted rates for college credits during enrollment. Credit from accredited post-secondary institutions will be recognized by iSucceed as credit earned toward graduation requirements.

Does online learning in an independent study format work well?

Yes. For many students, online independent study is an excellent way to develop personal strengths. After all, not every student feels comfortable raising their hand in a traditional classroom setting, or asking a question without fearing embarrassment. Every student deserves the chance to share their thoughts and get helpful feedback from teachers and advisers. iSucceed offers an environment where this can happen at each students pace, when they can focus best.

What roles do instructors play?

Teachers play a central role at iSucceed. We combine state-of-the-art online teaching techniques with experienced, state-certified teachers to create an environment where high school students feel engaged, empowered, and challenged. Our teachers know how to connect and inspire, and they’re dedicated to helping each student succeed. They’re able to spend their time focusing on teaching, mentoring, and engaging with students—rather than on time-consuming classroom management—so they can build one-on-one relationships with each student to understand and respond to their individual strengths and needs.

iSucceed teachers are subject area experts, and help students explore, comprehend and apply course concepts. They also answer day-to-day questions and assess student performance through assignments, exams and quizzes.

Do your courses require textbooks?

Texbooks are implemented into the online learning system.

How do you teach lab courses like Biology or Chemistry?

The content component and structure of our biology and chemistry courses are the same as for our other courses. We make use of the latest technologies to enable students to participate in virtual labs and dissections.

How do you satisfy the physical fitness requirement?

Being successful at iSucceed involves staying active both inside and outside the classroom. We have a set of courses that teach and emphasize individual physical fitness and nutrition. These courses require the student to perform fitness activities and measure and report on their individual fitness as they complete individual physical fitness exercises.

Are there assignments and due dates?

Like a traditional full-time high school, iSucceed Virtual High School encourages students to develop responsibility for academic progress. That means there are assignments, due dates, and deadlines. While some of what we do is more flexible in terms of the times and the places students do their work, we also make sure that parents, teachers and counselors are involved to help students progress through coursework in a timely manner.

How do you prevent students from cheating?

Students and parents must sign an academic honesty policy. iSucceed takes academic integrity very seriously and we have a number of methods to prevent plagiarism and inappropriate collaboration. We use a number of online tools designed specifically to identify plagiarism. Our online quizzes and exams require special passwords. Our online quiz technology can detect when a student is copying from another student.

A more subjective, but no less effective, tool for identifying cheating is the teacher’s knowledge of the student’s ability, past work and verbal “print”. Keeping in mind that much of the relationship with the student is built via written word, a student’s “word print” is as unique and identifiable in an online classroom as a student’s face is in a face-to-face classroom.

Although no school—online or otherwise—can guarantee 100% academic honesty, we’ve taken robust and reasonable measures to monitor student activities and to identify cheating when it happens. Instances of academic dishonesty are dealt with immediately and in accordance with school policy. Prior to enrolling, students and their parents are required to read, agree with, and sign an academic honesty policy.

How do parents stay involved?

We know that parental interest and involvement can play a key role in a high school student’s success; although for some students parent involvement may not be possible. We strongly encourage parents to support their student in their studies, keep informed of their progress, and encourage them to stay on top of their work. Parents are provided access to up-to-date information about their student’s progress throughout the semester via regular communication from the teacher and school.

We also recognize that as students enter the high school years, they often seek to become more independent. Our program is designed to support exploration of that independence, while still providing necessary guidance, support and expertise for both parents and students.

How frequently will I get progress reports/how do parents get information?

Progress reports are emailed weekly and mailed monthly. Parents are provided access to our learning management system, and can enter the online system at any point with a username and password. Grades are updated weekly. iSucceed teachers are always available to consult with parents by email or telephone, as well. And, of course, parents always have access to their student’s progress and report cards each semester, and can view lessons, student log-in activity, class calendars, etc.

What support do you offer students?

Beyond the ongoing support offered by our teachers every day in class, iSucceed supports today’s students with a host of innovative programs.

• Help with planning college and career pathways through course groupings, mentorships, counseling and internships.
• A dedicated adviser works with iSucceed parents and students to foster success in the online learning environment.
• We even provide full-time students with a school-issued laptop* including a headset and microphone, printer/scanner, along with an internet connection reimbursement for families that qualify.
• Academic assistance is available to help students and parents succeed in the online school environment — including course access technical support, problem with lost passwords, computer hardware issues, etc.

Do I have to be home while my child is doing schoolwork?

No. Although your student will benefit from your encouragement and knowing that you care about his or her progress, iSucceed teachers and advisers are available for problem-solving and support even when you are away. One benefit of our program is that your student can study at his or her own time, place, and pace—you can observe your student “going to school” whenever your schedule permits the opportunity…even when you’re at home together.

Do iSucceed credits transfer back into other high schools if needed?

iSucceed Virtual High School is a public online high school. As such, assuming students satisfactorily complete their courses, credits will transfer back into other high schools.

Does iSucceed offer summer school courses?

Yes. Summer school was initiated on a trial basis in the 2011-2012 school year and is expected to be adopted as a standard practice.

Diploma & Graduation

Do students take the Idaho Standards Test?

Students who are enrolled as full-time students at iSucceed Virtual High School are required to take the state-required Idaho Standards Test. iSucceed staff will make arrangements to have students take the test in locations that are geographically close to where they live.

Can I transfer credits in from a homeschool portfolio? From standardized exams?

Students can be in 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade when they enroll. Generally speaking, students can apply high school credits or earned credits for homeschool work towards their graduation requirements at iSucceed. Students who enroll with a high school transcript or a homeschool portfolio will speak with an iSucceed admissions counselor who will evaluate satisfactory completion of the documented work as it relates to iSucceed standards.

Who issues the diploma?

Graduating students will be issued a diploma from iSucceed Virtual High School.

Can my child apply to college after graduating from iSucceed?

Absolutely. When your son or daughter graduates from iSucceed Virtual High School, he or she will have a valid diploma from our district partnership in Idaho. With that diploma come all the records that are required for the college application process: valid transcripts, public high school SAT/ACT scores, teacher recommendations, school extracurricular activities, a student portfolio and culminating project.

There are additional benefits for college-bound students who graduate from iSucceed Virtual High School:

• Students can choose from multiple academic options including honors and College Prep—designed specifically to help pave the way for college admission. These academic options offer the necessary courses, preparation and challenges.
• Colleges and universities have begun to appreciate that independent study programs such as iSucceed Virtual High School often do a better job of preparing students for college because of important time management and individual responsibility skills they impart. Colleges are finding students from programs such as iSucceed Virtual High School make the transition into college more readily than their many of their counterparts.