The Benefits of Online School for Student Athletes

Student-athletes embody immense passion and commitment across all areas of their lives, dedicating themselves fully to reach their collegiate athletic goals. They spend countless hours traveling and practicing, follow strict dietary and nutritional plans to fuel their performance, and must also balance their academic and personal responsibilities.

As a parent of a student-athlete, you understand the challenges they face and how difficult it is to delicately balance all their commitments. It often seems like there are not enough hours in the day. This is a key reason why many student-athletes and their families choose online learning options, such as K12-powered online schools. Here are some of the benefits that enrolling in an online school can offer your young athlete, helping them to enhance their competitive edge while more easily managing their demanding athletic schedule:

Flexible Schedule

Online schooling offers the flexibility to move away from the rigid schedule of a traditional classroom. You and your young athlete can create a daily routine that aligns with their athletic training needs, whether that means starting later in the day, depending on your school, or taking breaks in the middle of the day. With this flexibility, their education can be tailored to support their aspirations, ensuring their athletic and academic commitments fit together harmoniously.

Finding a Balance

Student-athletes frequently push their physical limits through their rigorous training sessions. Enrolling in online school allows them to reduce the time spent commuting to school and sitting in a traditional classroom setting. They can handle their schoolwork at a pace that suits their needs, while establishing a daily routine that balances training, academics, rest, and everything in between.

Taking School with You

Travel is a common requirement for competitive sports, which can pose a challenge for student-athletes who attend traditional schools that have a fixed daily schedule and required attendance. The accessibility of online schooling offers a solution that enables students to take their classroom on the road. Students don’t have to miss out on competitions to meet in-person attendance requirements—they can log in to their normal classroom environment from anywhere in the world and continue their studies.

NCAA-Approved Options

Student-athletes with their sights set on Division I or Division II college sports must meet certain NCAA requirements throughout high school. Enrolling in an NCAA-approved school can enhance students’ preparation while providing a solid foundation for their academic and athletic endeavors. K12-powered online schools, which include public and private schools, offer several school options that meet NCAA standards.

Destinations Career Academy of Colorado (CODCA), an online public school in Colorado, is the most recent K12 school to earn NCAA approval. CODCA Executive Director, Teri Cady, shared, “Receiving NCAA approval means that our state’s elite athlete students no longer must choose between getting a sound education and pursuing their passions. They can manage their busy training schedules while still getting a Colorado public school education at CODCA that offers them the flexibility and opportunities to pursue their athletic passions.”

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Your young athlete has worked incredibly hard to reach this point in their athletic career. It’s likely been a long journey for you both, with many obstacles and sacrifices made along the way. Fortunately, there are options that can help your child and family find an ideal balance between sports and academics. Choosing an online school could be the solution you’ve been searching for. To learn more about K12-powered online schools and how they benefit your student-athlete, go to K12.com.

Family, Travel

Flexible Schedule

Finding a Balance

Taking School with You

NCAA-Approved Options

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