5 Ways Summer School Can Benefit Students
When deciding whether to enroll your child or teen in a summer school, you probably have a lot to consider. For example, does your student need a remedial class in order to graduate? Is he or she looking for enrichment courses? Does he or she need a little more practice in a certain subject?
Whatever the reason may be, online summer school is a great way for students to achieve their academic goals while still enjoying fun summer activities and vacations! Here are six ways taking summer courses can benefit your student:
1. Get Extra Help
Summer school is tailored to students who have struggled in a required course and need help getting back on track for graduation. This is the most common reason for attending summer school, as it prevents the student from falling behind—and allows him or her to graduate with classmates.
Enrolling in summer courses is also useful for college preparation. The ability to get into a desirable college can depend on as few as one or two points. Adding another class during the summer can help boost a student’s GPA, especially through International Connections Academy’s (iNaCA) affordable online summer school.
2. Bridge the Summer Gap
Often referred to as the “summer learning slide,” much of what is learned during the school year is forgotten over the summer, researchers have discovered. In fact, it can take four to six weeks to get kids back up to speed in the fall.
When it comes down to it, an education-free summer costs your student about two to three months of learning. With summer school, students have the opportunity to retain the information from the previous school year and get a head start in the fall. And since iNaCA offers its summer school students rolling start dates, summer courses can be tailored to your family’s unique schedule and around your favorite summertime activities.
3. Reinforce a Core Class
If students are having difficulty with a core class, they may have to make up that class the following year, plus take a new core course. This can be a blow to a student’s self-esteem and make him or her feel overwhelmed, especially when struggling through a class. By taking the difficult core class again during the summer, the student can begin the new school year with greater confidence and understanding of the subject matter.
4. Graduate Early
Students who take summer school classes may have the opportunity to graduate early and get a head start in college. For example, a high-quality summer school like iNaCA includes AP and honors credits, as well as challenging courses that can help make a transcript much more impressive to college admissions departments. Not only will this impress colleges and future employers, but also it has the potential to give the student a boost in self-assurance as he or she begins a new academic chapter.
Michelle Wadzinski, whose daughter Eva graduated one semester early with the help of iNaCA’s online summer program, says, “For summer school, families can’t beat iNaCA. Students are more open to online summer school because it means they have flexibility and don’t have to sit in a physical classroom over the summer. It keeps learning and good study habits alive.”
5. Expand Horizons
Summer schools offer more than just classes required for graduation. They also often offer enrichment classes, which can give students the opportunity to explore other subjects and interests that they wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to during the traditional school year. This helps to round out a student’s educational experiences, and it’s a great benefit when deciding what to pursue in college and in life.
Summer school can be a valuable and worthwhile experience for students who want to continue strengthening and developing their learning skills during the summer. To learn more about iNaCA’s 2017 online summer courses, make sure to visit iNaCA’s summer school web page.
How has summer school benefitted your student? We want to hear from you. Share your experiences in the comments!