Online high schools in Rhode Island
Technology is big in the small state of Rhode Island: All public schools have access to high speed Internet and data connections thanks to the state's participation in the federal E-rate program. In rural areas, financially disadvantaged students can use subsidized personal computers, and more than 400 schools and libraries connect to the Internet through a state relay network. The Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has also embarked on a project through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to integrate technology into the classroom.
Rhode Island is home to numerous public high schools, charter schools and private high schools. The mean SAT scores statewide in 2010 were below the national average, according to the state department of education, but academic achievement appears to be improving. In 2010, Rhode Island was ranked 20th in the country on the 2012 Quality Counts survey, compared to 31st place on the previous annual review. Some 9,700 students were graduated from public high schools in Rhode Island in 2011.
Options for Rhode Island online high schools
A 2011 study by the Evergreen Education Group found no full-time public online high schools in Rhode Island. Some schools provide supplemental online coursework for core subjects as well as electives. A virtual academy offers 80 selected online courses for grades 3-12; class tuition is paid by participating school districts. Programs are designed to provide options for a range of students, for example those seeking an extra challenge, or those who need to make up credits.
If you are seeking an alternative to a campus-based environment, you can explore private virtual academies, which typically provide expanded flexibility whether you are seeking full-time or part-time studies.