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July 23, 2012CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Incarnate Word Academy (IWA) has announced the launch of a virtual high school program that offers academic experiences for its students that will go beyond the classroom walls.
The Virtual High School Collaborative (VHS), a nonprofit pioneer of K-12 online learning, will kick off this fall on the IWA campus.
VHS broadens the scope of learning possibilities, offering students the ability to enroll in online courses not currently available at IWA. Students who participate in the VHS program will be taking courses with other students from around the state and across the globe.
Students will have the opportunity to collaborate and interact with peers from various walks of life. The program also will allow high school students to take courses online when a schedule conflict arises or credit recovery is needed.
“The main benefits of VHS will be to simplify student schedule conflicts, make up course credit, work in collaborative teams using 21st century communications technology, and interact with and learn from students from different countries and states,” Jose Torres, IWA High School principal, said.
VHS offers classes such as astronomy, creative writing, meteorology, criminology and psychology. Advanced placement (AP) courses are also available; they include art history, biology, calculus and computer science. With the expanded curriculum now available, students will have the opportunity to explore their interests, choosing classes that will correspond with majors they are considering for college as well as potential career choices.
The Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools nationally accredits VHS. The course design aligns with National Education Association guidelines for online courses, and the College Board has approved all AP courses.
Through these internet-based VHS courses, IWA can significantly enhance its curricular offerings, and at the same time integrate technology skills into its academic curriculum, Torres said.