Astounding Growth in Enrollment for Online Schools

Online education has become one of the most preferred ways of acquiring a degree for many students across the globe. It has grown impressively over the past few years and has gained popularity among students, stay-at-home adults, working professionals and others. Many renowned academic institutions and colleges around the United States are striving hard to cope with the constant growth in student enrollment in accredited courses online.

As students can access the assignments and lectures according to their own convenience, online learning is proving to be more advantageous for the students as it does not conflict with their personal and work schedules. Hence increasing numbers of students are now opting for online courses. Moreover, with the changing times, the perception of employer’s towards online degrees have also changed significantly as most of these graduates are being offered better jobs with higher pay.

Integration of Online Learning in K-12 schools

Even K-12 schools are now implementing modern technology to develop their process for knowledge delivery. With the growth of web-based learning, several K-12 schools are currently focused on providing effective and affordable learning solutions to its students. The immense popularity of web-based education has significantly helped in developing numerous online learning processes. Currently, the demand for mobile learning and blended learning models is also growing rapidly. K12 schools across the U.S. are trying to fit in modern technology and open content to attain excellent results. Presently, these schools are aiming to include competency-based learning processes so that they can reach out to more students and deliver a better learning experience.

Growth in Enrollment

According to the 2013 Outlook for the Growth and Demand of Online Education published by OnlineSchool.com, most of the leading universities and colleges have experienced an astonishing increase in student enrollments for online school certification courses and degree courses. Over the last few years, higher education colleges have reported around 25 percent rise in online enrollment, as reported by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Although most experts were apprehensive about online learning and claimed that its growth would certainly come to a halt, the current scenario strongly contradicts their claims. It also challenges the annual survey results from 2500 universities and colleges, conducted by the Sloan Consortium and the Babson Survey Research Group.

The initial boom in the numbers of online enrollment was ascribed to the 2008 recession as the job market became extremely competitive and there was a high demand for professionals with bachelor’s or master's degrees. However, even after the economy recouped the popularity of online learning continued to increase and it is expected that enrollment of e-learning students will escalate further this year. Many reputed colleges and universities are now incorporating online courses in their programs to improve their sustainability in the technologically enhanced domain of higher education.

Moreover many educators and faculty members of colleges are now recognizing online learning as same as or even better than conventional classroom learning. As new platforms, applications and software are being incessantly developed to offer better learning tools to the students, most teachers are realizing the true value of digital and web-based learning.

Enrollment for 2014–2015 School Year

Various schools throughout Washington are now accepting applications from students for the 2014-2015 school year for different online programs. Enrollment for grades K–12 for the 2014–2015 school year has now started in schools like iQ Academy-Washington, Insight School of Washington and Washington Virtual Academy.

Washington Virtual Academy is offering both full-time online courses and part-time online courses; while iQ Academy-Washington and Insight School of Washington are offering only full-time online programs. All the three schools are reputed online public schools and these provide effective offline and online instructions. Moreover the schools also include teachers certified by the state and incorporate mastery-based curriculum.

Students across the state can apply to the tuition-free programs in each school. The online schools are offering advanced learner programs, core subjects and electives and the students can develop themselves with an Individualized Learning Plan. These institutes also offer adequate opportunities for socialization like field trips, community-based projects and clubs.

• iQ Academy-Washington

It is an online public middle school and high school in Washington. The school, a program of the Evergreen School District, aims to provide its students with the required technical skills and educational tools for succeeding in their careers through an independent learning setting. The full-time online courses are accessible to students across the state in grades 6 to 12. The iQ Academy offers the students individualized support that is needed for their success.

• Insight School of Washington

Insight School of Washington is a statewide online school that offers tuition-free full-time courses. It facilitates their students to reach their true potential through personalized attention and instruction. The school, certified by the Quillayute Valley School District, also helps the students in grades 9 to 12 and their families to cope with the various challenges in learning in a very supportive manner. This accredited educational institute aims to support struggling individuals by providing them an alternative means of learning and developing themselves for graduation and further studies.

• Washington Virtual Academy

Washington Virtual Academy is an online public school that offers tuition-free full-time and part-time courses in grades K-12 that can be accessed by students statewide. It has a comprehensive program, state-certified teachers and a supportive school community which helps the students to prepare for college and a better career after graduation. The institute offers various interesting courses that allow the students to acquire college credit while they are still in high school. The Advanced Learner Program is also beneficial for the students.

Families in Washington are invited to find out more information related to the online programs offered by these schools by signing up for online or in-person information sessions which have been scheduled throughout the state during the spring and summer.