REVIEW OF Ontario eSecondary School BY parent, Josee Marshall

(5) Student Experience

I feel lucky that we found the Ontario e-Secondary School. Our daughter is autistic and preferred to learn from home once she got to Grade 10. We've tried many online schools, but this one surpasses all others. My daughter needs more time to complete her work. She is a perfectionist and has her own way of processing information. The fact that this school gave her a whole year to finish her course took a lot of pressure off. She was able to work at her own pace and really do her best work. She also feels that her teacher genuinely cared about her. They had the opportunity to discuss some sections of the course live. My daughter felt she was listened to and cared for.

(5) School Leadership

The administration was helpful from day one. Whenever we ran into issues (tech or other), they were very patient and pleasant to deal with. We never felt like our questions or requests were a bother. Once enrolled, the admin continued to support us throughout my daughter's course. At one point, we needed to make some changes to her courses, and the Program Administrator was helpful by explaining the options. I must say, she is also a very pleasant person to deal with!

(5) Teaching

Her teacher made herself available and was extremely helpful. Usually, my daughter would get an answer within the same day when she had pressing issues or difficulties. She was also quick to respond to my daughter's questions or needs. I felt that they developed a good relationship. Once a unit, the teacher would ask my daughter what a good time for a chat would be; they would discuss parts of the unit, with my daughter having options for questions. They also made an effort to diversify the learning activities and assessments. Her course included interactive activities, like Gizmo, and fun, engaging videos such as the 'Amoeba Sisters'. She had clever ways to have my daughter review the content. For example, she had her make a video for the unit to show what she had learned.

(5) Academics

Being a teacher myself, I can recognize a quality curriculum. I also appreciate the rigour when it comes time for the exams; e-Secondary has a high standard and thoroughness in upholding academic integrity. We were away for part of the year, living abroad. The school accommodated our situation. However, they made sure that her exams were proctored by a person who was contacted directly by them. The proctor had to receive the exam an hour before the set time and print it out. Then, they needed to be in the same room during the exam. As soon as my daughter was done, the proctor scanned her exam and had to return it to the school within a short time. I definitely can recommend this online school without any reservations.

(5) School Life

My daughter has been very happy with her Grade 12 biology class. She found the materials engaging and helpful. She can log on and work at her own pace. For her, learning online at her own pace suits her learning style. Due to her autism, she often suffered from sensory overload when in a regular brick-and-mortar school. The Ontario e-Secondary School was very flexible and made sure to accommodate her IEP needs. We felt they understood neurodiverse students and did their best to support them. Ontario e-Secondary also provides free tutors 24/7. I think this shows how they go beyond our expectations. Their website was sometimes a bit hard to navigate because it is extensive, but we were able to have the teacher explain how to use it. All in all, a wonderful learning experience.

(5) Admissions

From the first inquiry, we received wonderful service. The school provided a free consultation to understand our needs and answer our questions. They have been very responsive and helpful. I could not be more impressed. Once we decided to enroll my daughter, everything went smoothly. The price was quite reasonable for the amount of service and expertise provided. I can't think of anything else we could ask for when it comes to the admissions process. Mara, the Program Administrator, is a gem.

(5) University placement and counselling

The reason our daughter needed to take an extra course was that she was missing the prerequisite for the university undergraduate program she wanted to apply to. Unfortunately, she came from a very small high school that had only a graduating class of 15 students. Because of this, the variety of courses available was quite limited. She was only able to take a general Grade 12 science class. When she decided to apply for a science undergraduate program, she was missing the Grade 12 biology and chemistry classes. We decided to look at online asynchronous courses available in Canada, and after comparing more than 12, we chose Ontario e-Secondary School. Now my daughter will have the prerequisites she needs to finally achieve her dream of studying ecology.