One school, many choices

When SC Whitmore School cranks up next month, it will be unlike any other school in the state. Not only is there no school building for the high school (as is the case with four other virtual schools operating in the state), the year is not divided into neat semesters, there is not a summer vacation, and students in the same "class" will be doing work on vastly different levels and at different speeds.

There will be a learning curve for parents as well as students associated with Whitmore. Many might be uneasy with the idea of virtual education where students do their work from home remotely.

But schools are about learning, after all, and experience has shown that providing alternatives can improve education in the state.

If it works for students, the savings would be significant. Some 250 students are expected to enroll in the school this year, and the principal has hired six teachers and some guidance counselors to interact with students at home.

No new air conditioners to buy. No old copy machines to repair. No meals to serve and no hiring people to cook them.

But there is also no social education that comes with attending classes with other students. And nationally, some teachers have found that they have less contact with parents in this setting than in a traditional classroom.

Here's how it works: Students can start at any time during the school year (which is 12 months). They can work as fast as they want -- or as slowly -- as long as they master the subjects.

While one student might be midway through Algebra II, another will be beginning Geometry and another finishing Calculus. Some will want to take one course at a time and others will take eight.

Any new school faces the risk of failing. But the more choices students have, the more likely they are to find options that suit their learning capacity and style.

And while this program is innovative, it is also tested. It uses the CompuHigh format which is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and recognized by many colleges.

Whitmore won't be for everyone by any means. It won't have a football team and a debate club. Students won't have daily contact with each other. And it's hard to envision a spirited school rivalry between Whitmore and another virtual school.

But we're in the digital age, and it makes sense to use the medium that many high school students prefer -- as long as educators track the school's successes and failures and ensure that the effort really is a benefit to students.