Some students are ditching school day classes and opting for online courses to get ahead in their studies.

“Students take online courses for a variety of reasons.  Usually it’s to make up a course they flunked in the past, to move on to the next level of a course, or they are interested in a class that’s not offered at LZ,” Laura Beata, school counselor, said.

Tara Wilkes, junior who took Econ over the summer, said she took the class over the summer on a program called American Academy because her counselor recommended it.

“[Online classes are] flexible, so I took it over the summer so I was able to have an open space in my schedule for the school year,” Wilkes said.  “And it was beneficial during the summer because I could balance that’s out along with all my sports and stuff, like basketball camp.”

“I normally wouldn’t recommend an online class,” Beata said.  “But there are some circumstances where a student needs to take a class online, like if they flunk a class or want to move ahead to the next level of a course, but it is not necessary for all students.”

Beata also said the most common courses students take online are math or English because those are the classes most students fail and need to pass in order to graduate, but students can take online courses for many reasons.

Wilkes said she thinks online classes are better for people who are busy because getting a class done online or over the summer leaves more time open in her schedule for other electives.  

Wilkes said she would not have wanted to take a course over the summer unless she had to because there is no teacher there to help you if you need it.  Beata echoed the warning.

“Depending on how well you teach yourself and understand the material you are given,” Beata said.  “The class will be easier or harder for certain students.  It just depends on what kind of student you are.”