OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi’s online high school continues to advance its programming and reputation. The school grabbed a national ranking late this summer when thebestschools.org named the program “one of the best online high schools in the country.”
On the heels of that accolade, the program received official approval to change its name to the University of Mississippi High School.
“We truly are a comprehensive high school that has everything except the homecoming dance and football team,” said Ellen Shelton, UMHS director.
After a review and approval process with the national accrediting body AdvancedED-Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and an official consent from UM Provost Morris Stocks, the former UM Independent Study High School has dropped the “independent study” term from official materials and is focusing on providing a rigorous high school experience culminating in a high school diploma through Ole Miss.
“This is just the next step in increasing the credibility of the program,” Shelton said. “We felt like we were outgrowing the term ‘independent study high school,’ and we wanted to be seen as academically rigorous and relevant.”
The program has more than 250 students enrolled in 43 courses this fall. Some are completing just a course or two to complement their current local high school education, while others are taking several courses to complete their high school diplomas and move on with higher education or career.
“It’s important to the students we enroll in the program that they earn their high school diploma from a reputable school so that they are not jeopardizing their future college careers, work opportunities and such,” said Sandy Bowen, UMHS program coordinator. “Making sure they are educated through a strong program that carries the weight of an institution like Ole Miss just assures students that even though they are taking a nontraditional route to complete their education, their degree will still be accepted wherever they go in life.”
The UM High School will host an open house at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Oxford-University Depot, behind the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Students and parents are who interested in finding out more about the online program and in meeting students and faculty are invited.
More information can also be found online at http://www.olemiss.edu/hsathome.