GW starts online high school

The school is designed for students who plan on attending top-tier colleges and universities, with rigorous classes, said Barb Brueggemann, head of the new school.

Admission will be selective, and students will be judged on work ethic, integrity and academic rigor, she said.

“The biggest difference will be the degree of flexibility in the students’ schedules,” Brueggemann said.

Enrollment for one year will cost $10,000, and financial aid might be made available in the future, she said.

“This is the first of its kind that we’ve created,” said Jeff Kwitowski, vice president of public affairs at K12. “This will be for highly achieving, college-bound students.”

The private online school will provide students with individualized programs. Kwitowski said the top benefit the school will have over brick-and-mortar high schools is flexibility.

“The curriculum will not be confined to a five-day-a-week set schedule,” Kwitowski said. “This will reflect a college schedule, which will help students transition.”

Brueggmann said the online nature of the school will benefit students involved in jobs or athletics, and will enable students living abroad to access an American school.

Kwitowski said students also will be able to do some of the school work at their own pace.

“We don’t want them to be left behind, which can sometimes happen in [brick-and-mortar] schools,” he said.

Students will “attend” online classroom forums and also work by themselves. They will be able to meet with their teachers through an online forum.

“This is a generation of social networking, so we’re going to focus on developing social skills through technology,” Brueggemann said.

Sixteen students are currently enrolled, but Brueggemann said the school expects more applicants.

“This school represents a unique opportunity to change education on a paradigm,” Brueggemann said. “It’s innovation at its best.”