There are many things that online instruction can offer that other schools simply can’t, including distance learning and remediation. Stephen Baker began developing the concept of the Virtual High School in 1995 with that in mind, and VHS gained accreditation—with it the ability to confer the OSSGD—in 2002. Courses can be started at any point, and students are able to work through the material at their own pace. There are many opportunities for interaction and collaboration with other students and instructors. At the end of the day, it’s a unique approach, and it has proven itself with a range of learners with a range of academic purposes.
We questioned the school adminstration
1. Who are you, as a school?
"Virtual High School has been a trusted leader in online education since 2001. Students at VHS choose when and where to study, when to submit assignments, and when to write their online final exams. We recognize that no two learners are the same. With certified teachers, free online tutoring, dedicated student support teams, and an outstanding administrative staff, we stay focused on meeting the needs of each student to deliver the best in online secondary education."
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Self-paced, fully online courses
18 months to finish
Ontario Certified Teachers
Free online tutoring
Fast track and repeat options
Strong administrative support
100,000+ enrolments
Recommended by universities
Credits recognized worldwide
2. What do you do differently and uniquely well?
"Our student-centred support services help to provide an unparalleled educational experience. VHS teachers are trained to teach in an online environment, offer individualized...(more)
"Our student-centred support services help to provide an unparalleled educational experience. VHS teachers are trained to teach in an online environment, offer individualized attention to students, and provide invaluable feedback on all assignments. The VHS administrative team is available via phone, email, and live chat to answer questions and assist students in meeting personal deadlines. Our tutoring service gives students access to free academic coaching and homework help."
3. What tradeoffs has your school made to serve families in this way?
"At VHS, we are committed to delivering high-quality course design that equips our students for success in post-secondary education and beyond. We take great pride in thoughtfully...(more)
"At VHS, we are committed to delivering high-quality course design that equips our students for success in post-secondary education and beyond. We take great pride in thoughtfully developing each course, which may mean not offering every possible subject. Our focus is on creating rigorous courses that challenge students to reach their full potential, ensuring they are well-prepared for the future. We do not prioritize easy grades; instead, we emphasize the development of time management, independent study skills, and a comprehensive, superior education."
4. What key junctures in your school's history have most shaped its present?
"The idea to create a fully online school began at the front of a biology classroom in 1995. Stephen Baker had his request for new textbooks for his Grade 11 Biology class denied...(more)
"The idea to create a fully online school began at the front of a biology classroom in 1995. Stephen Baker had his request for new textbooks for his Grade 11 Biology class denied so he turned to the internet to develop his very own digital content for his students.
On September 1, 2001, Virtual High School received its inspected private school status from the Ontario Ministry of Education. By June 24, 2002, VHS had issued its first official Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) credit. Like most great ventures, Mr. Baker operated the school out of his basement until eventually renovating a historic hotel in Bayfield, Ontario to house his school in 2011. Fast forward another decade and Virtual High School now has over 8,000 enrolments each year, in-house academic and administrative teams, more than 70 courses, and nearly 150 certified teachers."
5. What type of student is a good fit for your school?
Information not yet available.
6. Under what conditions would you advise a family against choosing your school?
Information not yet available.
7. To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?
"Virtual High School is popular among families because of its renowned reputation at post-secondary institutions across Canada and around the globe. Many VHS graduates attend major...(more)
"Virtual High School is popular among families because of its renowned reputation at post-secondary institutions across Canada and around the globe. Many VHS graduates attend major universities and colleges in Canada, so you can rest assured that VHS is a household name. After 20 years of developing and teaching courses online, VHS is unrivaled in terms of experience, credibility, and expertise."
8. How would you characterize your school's image amongst the public?
"We are well-known for our flexible model, our excellent service, and our engaging, rigorous courses."
"We are well-known for our flexible model, our excellent service, and our engaging, rigorous courses."
9. What aspect of your school is underappreciated?
"We recognize that not all students learn in the same way, so we have produced courses with built-in accommodations that support a variety of student needs. VHS courses meet or...(more)
"We recognize that not all students learn in the same way, so we have produced courses with built-in accommodations that support a variety of student needs. VHS courses meet or exceed provincial accessibility standards and include text-to-speech capabilities. Instruction is differentiated, providing learning materials via text, video, multimedia assets, and interactive activities. Where possible, assessments allow students flexibility in the medium or format they use to present ideas."
10. What might families find surprising about your school?
"The VHS learning experience comes with the unique opportunity to engage with students from across the world. We facilitate online community events to encourage students to connect...(more)
"The VHS learning experience comes with the unique opportunity to engage with students from across the world. We facilitate online community events to encourage students to connect with each other, offering them the chance to interact with people from different cultures, learn new skills, and share their passions."
11. What improvements or changes has your school made recently?
Information not yet available.
12. How will your school change in the next 5 years?
Virtual High School has been a great experience for my daughter and son on every level. The courses are laid out clearly, the teachers are always available and helpful, and the assignments themselves have been challenging and interesting. The interface is easy to use, too. Teacher response to emails has been unfailingly fast, typically the next day at the very latest. It has also been a huge blessing, during this time of pandemic and change, to have had their online schooling remain exactly the same as before. Many of my children's friends (and their families) have been frustrated with the results of their schooling moving online. But attending Virtual High School has meant no changes whatsoever to the school day, and with so many other things being so difficult, it has been wonderful to not have school to worry about.
I absolutely love Virtual High School. It is an online school that allows the students to progress at their own pace. For subjects where writing is involved the teachers will most of the time allow you to create a draft through which you can have the opportunity to get feedback and then you can submit the final version of that specific assignment. I love how VHS gives access to an online tutoring program that's free of charge. VHS and the online tutoring program really helped me get good marks on my grades and geared me towards a successful life ahead. The fact that I can get up every day and feel confident in my schoolwork and supported by my teachers is a great feeling.
Virtual High School offers courses that are not only flexible and time efficient, but extremely fun to complete and give students the complete freedom of when they would like to start and end the course at their own time schedule! My experience at Virtual High School has been nothing but pleasant and wish to change nothing about the structure of the course content and assignments. Every assignment is analyzed to the dot by teachers and staff members at VHS to make sure every student is capable to complete the assignments with no struggles or worries. If you ever feel that your questions may not be appropriately answered by your teachers through email, you are always free to open the free tutoring tool that offers a live chat with a professional that gives you a detailed step-by-step explanation of any course content questions you may have! Another tool that has completely changed my time management was the "Pacing Tool" which allows you to input the start date of the course you are taking and the desired end date of when you would like to be done with the course. It then provides you with a list of all the assignments and test you must complete before your deadline approaches!
Virtual High School is a amazing online private school that has all of its class work online right at you disposal for anytime you want to work. Virtual High School allows students the opportunity to create their own pace as to how fast or how slow they want to finish the course. In my experience so far there is nothing that I would wish to change about the school, but the one thing I wish I knew before I started was the free tutoring. I had always been worried that there might be questions I don't know and that I would have to wait a while before the teacher could answer their email, but with the free tutoring I can get help with answering my questions with the press of a button.
Virtual High School allows you the flexibility to move and pursue personal and professional aspirations without sacrificing your education. I wouldn’t have graduated without VHS, as I had decided in grade 10 that my professional goals came before my education. It does require work ethic, but as a parent if you can supervise and ensure your kid puts in a few hours per day, the extra time and flexibility you gain is invaluable. Technology has changed a lot since I attended, but even back then there was a focus on delivering high quality course materials and assignments. I have taken a lot of online based training, and it often feels not well put together or sometimes confusing. I never had that feeling at Virtual High School.
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