For Sale: Virtual High School with AP

[Vle045]

I think that many virtual schools will see a sharp decline this year.   A lot of people will be returning to B&M high schools.  Especially now that there is a vaccine available for high school kids.

Most ACTUAL virtual schools were not new during Covid - not Zoom+some random crap a school made up, but real virtual schools.  My kid did one this year, and will probably finish up his senior year there next year because it gives him SO much flexibility.  He's able to work 25-30 hours a week, play 3 sports, and still take naps on the daily.  There is zero chance he could do that in a regular high school.

Also, I think you will see a huge increase in them due to an increase in homeschooling.  Between Covid fears, teachers not coming in for in-person learning, and parents realizing they don't have to know every subject to homeschool their kids, there will be more of these.  In CA, I know there has been a HUGE jump in the number of homeschoolers this year, and lots who are going to continue, who went out and found online options for their kids when the whole Zoom+ wasn't coming anywhere close to helping their kids learn.  Virtual schools, including virtual charter schools, stepped in and made a big difference.  And the personalized learning that is now available...some kids just won't want to go back to in-person learning.

I am well aware.  I’ve been working in K-12 schools for about 10 years, including actual virtual schools.   Enrollment more than doubled this year in some virtual schools. At the same time, a lot those students tend to be very transient.  Bouncing from school to school. Some are just trying to play the attendance game. And state laws are constantly trying to close those gaps.  Early re-enrollment numbers for next year show that a good chunk of kids are planning to go back to their b&m school.  Once the dust settles, there may still be an increase over two years ago, but I think there will be a sharp decline from this year.  As a parent whose 8th grader did online schooling this year, I would not choose it for my son again unless there was a need.  He is far too distracted at home... he said so himself. His grades continually dropped throughout   the year.  I am just hoping he can rebound next year. In our area, most parents want their kids back in a building.  Of course there is a need for virtual schooling for some.  But it’s not for everyone.  

I think if it looked like it was going to be highly profitable next year, they wouldn’t be selling it.