Frequently Asked Questions
Before You Register
When do courses start and end?
Click here to access to the school calendar.
What is the schedule (frequency and duration)?
Summer courses are asynchronous and paced. When we say asynchronous, we mean that students choose when to log in and complete their work. There aren’t any required times when the entire class is required to be online together. Our courses, however, are paced--they have regular due dates for assignments and projects.
How much work should I expect to do?
Each day of a summer course is like an entire week of that subject in the regular school year schedule. Students should expect to engage with the course for 20 hours a week, with the expectation that students do at least four hours of work each week day.
I'm going to be offline for part of the course. Should I still register?
We advise students not to plan camps or extensive travel during the weeks they’re in summer session, because our courses are fast-paced and cover a lot of material. Teachers can’t accommodate student travel or other activities that take you away from your course. If you know that you will be away from the internet for more than one day, it’s important to inform your teacher about the dates in your first meeting. Missing one or two days can create a backlog of late work very quickly. This is especially important at the start of the course. If missing days is unavoidable, your teacher will do his or her best to help you make a plan to complete all the work before you go offline. On some assignments, it may not be possible to get extensions or make up missed work.
Can I get credit for the course at my school?
Our courses are designed to cover a full year’s worth of material--they are equal to a year-long high school course. Awarding credit for summer courses is a decision that your school needs to make. Some schools award credit, some allow students to jump forward to the next class, and others require students to take a placement test before school starts. Students should check their school’s policy before registering.
If I drop the course, can I get a refund?
Refunds depend on when the course is dropped. If a course is dropped before the first day of classes, a full refund is issued. If a course is dropped during the drop/add period (the first week of summer courses), 50% of tuition is refunded. We can’t offer refunds for any courses dropped after the drop/add period is over. (See our Calendar page for this year’s dates.) Please note that this policy applies even to students who register late for a course.
What are students like?
Highly motivated students across the United States and abroad take One Schoolhouse courses to challenge themselves to get ahead and to satisfy curriculum requirements. Some students want to advance through a math sequence. Others need to create flexibility in their school year schedule. Sometimes, students plan to go abroad or to a semester program and want to complete a curriculum requirement before leaving for that adventure. The need for flexibility drives some students to register for our courses, and others want to explore what it’s like to learn online. One Schoolhouse students are enrolled at some of the top independent schools in the U.S., and plan to go on to selective and highly selective colleges.
How does a One Schoolhouse course compare to courses at my school?
One Schoolhouse courses are structured to be as rigorous and creative as the classes at top independent schools around the country. That’s by design. Teachers and students come from independent schools and expect courses to challenge and engage learners. We’re proud that 96% of our students say they’re challenged in our courses. Just like most independent schools, our summer classes are small, with an average section size of 17 students. We believe that students need to develop strong relationships with their teachers, and with their fellow students. When students feel connected to each other and their teachers, they find great success.
Getting Started
When will I receive login information?
You will receive an email in the first week of June that gives you information about what to expect in your course. On the Friday before your course starts, you’ll receive your login information (username and password), and you can log in for the first time on the first day of classes.
Are there textbooks and materials for summer courses?
All of our courses require materials; many of them are available online for free. Students will receive a resource list in late May. If you have more questions about books or materials, look at our Resource List.
What is the first week of courses like?
In your first week of the course, you’ll go through our orientation module, which introduces you to our practices and policies, our Learning Management System, and the best strategies for learning online. After that, you’ll jump right into your course. During the first week, you’ll also meet with your teacher using video chat to talk about your goals for the course.
Who should I contact for technical support during my course?
One Schoolhouse offers limited technical support. If you have questions about the computer hardware you plan to use, or have issues with software required for your course, you should contact the One Schoolhouse office at 202.618.3637 or help@oneschoolhouse.org for assistance or for advice on what technical support might be needed. If you encounter a hardware problem, we encourage you to have the issue assessed by an outside computer support service as quickly as possible.
What does learning look like at One Schoolhouse?
The same kind of learning takes place in online courses and face-to-face classrooms, but we use different tools online. Instead of seminar-style discussions, we use discussion boards and video chats to create dialogue among students and provide opportunities for reflection. Group projects use wikis for creative collaboration within classes. Students in science classes do labs--some use online simulations, while others use household objects for hands-on exploration. Throughout all the activities of online learning, we know that a student’s connection to the teacher is paramount, so we offer video meetings, opportunities for reflection, and regular feedback.
Communication
What communications should I expect from One Schoolhouse?
You will receive an email in the first week of June that gives you information about what to expect in your course. On the Friday before your course starts, you’ll receive your login information (username and password), and you can log in for the first time on the first day of classes.
Can parents and guardians talk to One Schoolhouse teachers?
If parents/guardians have questions about your course, teacher, or work, we encourage them to communicate with our Student Success Team, at academics@oneschoolhouse.org. We do not schedule parent-teacher conferences. If a student needs more consistent and repeated support than others in the class, One Schoolhouse works with the parent/guardian to ensure that the student has the right supports in place.
Will my school have access to the final grade and report card?
Students and parents/guardians receive report cards after the midterm (four weeks of coursework) and after the course finishes. If you attend one of our consortium schools, we’ll send them a copy of your transcript and report card. Otherwise, you can submit your report card to your school.
Teachers and Support
How does One Schoolhouse prepare students to take an online course?
We know that taking a course with One Schoolhouse is likely the first online course experience for students. That's why we take time to orient students to the online space. The most important part of orientation is connecting students to their teacher to begin to create a strong relationship and set goals for the summer. Teachers also make sure that students know that they're available to meet regularly.
Who are the teachers?
One Schoolhouse hires caring and engaged teachers from some of the top independent schools around the country. Eighty percent of our faculty holds a master’s degree and/or a terminal degree. Many teachers come from our consortium schools. All are experienced teachers in their discipline and are specially trained in creating and managing personalized online learning spaces.
What if I need extra help?
If you need additional support, your first stop should always be your One Schoolhouse teacher. Our teachers are available to students through weekly office hours, Skype, phone and email, and frequently via text as well. Whether meetings are occasional or regular, teachers are ready to discuss assignments, review topics or help prepare for assessments.
How does One Schoolhouse support students?
We believe that strong connections help students thrive, so teachers are available to meet with students regularly on multiple platforms: email, video chat, and phone/text. We check and send weekly updates to any students and their parents/guardians who are experiencing challenges, letting the family know about recent work and what steps can get the student back on track. Together, we make sure students have the resources and strategies they need to move forward in the course.