OXFORD, Miss. –The University of Mississippi’s Independent Study High School has made great strides in recent years to serve students who want to earn their high school degrees but need to do so in a nontraditional way. Those efforts were recognized when the program was ranked 24th in the nation for Best Online High School Diplomas by TheBestSchools.org, outflanking academic powerhouses such as the University of Texas and Stanford University.
“We are excited to see this positive national feedback about the program,” said Ellen Shelton, director of the university’s ISHS program. “This ranking confirms that our program is rigorous and students are finding it beneficial in achieving their educational goals.”
Public, charter, private and university high school diploma-granting online programs were evaluated and ranked in one list based on their programming, academic oversight (accreditation status at publication time), state approval, performance, inclusivity, personal attention and cost.
Developed in 2002, the Ole Miss ISHS program has seen a large increase in students enrolling this past year. Some students enroll to accelerate the completion of their high school degree, and others enroll to catch up on missed requirements.
Some students complete their high-school graduation requirements with the program due to nontraditional circumstances, such as being in a military family that is required to move or being involved in competitive sports.
With more than 250 students enrolled in courses, the program has 43 class options available to students looking to complete their high school diploma online.
James Barham, who holds a doctorate in the history and philosophy of science from Notre Dame University, heads the Best Schools organization. His ranking system is based on three master criteria: academic excellence, return on investment and incidental benefit.
TheBestSchools.org advises that “in determining the value of an online high school program, you will want to consider the following: rate of successful program completion, ease of communication with the school and with teachers, flexibility and delivery of classes, counseling and tutoring services, individualized programming, availability of specialization (engineering, religion, arts, etc.), dual credit offerings, and extracurricular activities or clubs.”
One factor in the decision to rank the Ole Miss ISHS program so highly is its national AdvancedED-Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and NCAA accreditations, both of which require high standards of excellence to be met.
For more information about the UM Independent Study High School and to view a full listing of available courses, visit http://www.olemiss.edu/hsathome.