"It's very important for me to have control over my education. I can determine where I'm going and at what rate, and right now I'm a grade ahead of where I'm supposed to be. I don't think it would be easy for me to do this in a traditional high school."

-Jacob W. iQ Academy Student

Frequently Asked Questions

Find the answers you're looking for.

Home Schooling
Online Learning Environment
Open Enrollment
Student Support
General Questions

FAQs: Home Schooling

Is iQ Academy the same as home schooling?

Students enrolled in iQ Academy do their learning at home, but they are participating in a public school program of Evergreen Public Schools. The curriculum is approved by the district for earning middle school and high school credits that can lead to a high school diploma through iQ Academy Washington and Evergreen Public Schools.

What kind of diploma will my child receive after completing iQ Academy?

Students who complete all the district requirements for graduation will receive a Washington high school diploma from Evergreen Public Schools.

My child has been doing regular home school up until now. He will be in 11th grade next year and we want him to graduate on time. How will iQ Academy count his work done while in home school?

Because every home school curriculum can be different, we will need to review any documentation you have of your child's high school work so we can compare it against the requirements for the State of Washington. Contact us by phone or email for more information.

My child has an IEP and has been enrolled in Special Education in our home school district. Does iQ Academy enroll students with special needs?

Yes. However, the main issue to be considered is whether the independent nature of online instruction will be the best fit for a student with special needs. Staff from iQ Academy will discuss your child's situation with you. You may contact us by phone for more information.

FAQs: The Online Learning Environment

We don't have a very good computer at home. Can my child participate in iQ Academy?

Yes! Every full time iQ Academy student has the option to use one of iQ Academy's computers while enrolled full-time in our program.

Do we have to have high speed internet access to participate in iQ Academy Washington?

No, although high speed internet access definitely makes the experience of learning online much more satisfying, it is not absolutely necessary. Some areas of Washington unfortunately do not have high-speed access available yet. For those areas that have high-speed access available, however, it is definitely the preferred type of internet access for the program.

What kinds of safeguards are in place to keep my child safe while working on the Internet?

The main content of iQ Academy courses is available directly through our secure, online student classroom area. In some cases, links provided by teachers direct students to other websites so students can take advantage of the wealth of educational information available online. In addition to limiting the sites to which students must visit to do their coursework, we have added software to all student laptop computers that filters out sites that are not appropriate for middle and high school-aged children. Beyond that, good parental supervision and setting some guidelines for internet use that match your family values will go a long way in protecting your children from unwanted information on the Internet.

Do I have to be at home all the time my child is doing schoolwork?

This is not required. However, it is important for your child to know that you are interested in how he/she is doing in school. It is unrealistic for most middle school and high school-aged students to handle the total responsibility of an online learning environment without any parental intervention. The iQ Academy program does not require students to do all of their coursework during the traditional school hours, so it may be beneficial for some families to schedule at least some of their "school time" during hours that parents are home to provide support.

How do I know if my child would be successful doing online learning?

Some of the qualities that we have seen in our most successful students are:

The ability to work independently.
A willingness to seek out answers to their questions, or to move on to a different subject until the necessary help is available.
The willingness to ask for help when needed. There are many opportunities to get help from teachers, from other students, or from technical support. Students have to be willing to make use of those resources and let someone know if they don't understand something.
Some internal motivation to succeed in the program. Students who are forced into an online learning environment will be less likely to be successful.

Our family travels quite a bit. Would that be a problem in the iQ Academy program?

As long as internet access is available, students can log into iQ Academy and get to their courses. For trips during which internet access may not be available, students can print off their assignments ahead of time and work from those in order to keep up with their work. Students should notify their teachers by email if they will be unable to access the Internet for a period of time.

As a parent, how can I check on my son/daughter's progress in iQ Academy?

Parents are assigned a secure Parent Observer Account where they can enter the iQ Academy site and monitor their child's progress and online activity. Using this account, parents can go directly to their child's classes and see what assignments have been completed and what their child's grades are at any time. A progress report is also emailed to parents' iQ email accounts weekly.

FAQs: Open Enrollment

Once we start the school year, can we still change our minds and go back to our resident district?

Although we work very hard to make iQ Academy a positive experience for all of our students, if you feel that iQ Academy is not the best choice for your child you always have the ability to return to your local school or to regular home schooling.

Is iQ Academy Washington a private school?

No, iQ Academy Washington is a public middle and high school. It is a program of Evergreen Public Schools.

FAQs: Student Support

What is a Student Learning Plan?

All iQ Academy Washington students will work with an academic advisor to develop an individual Student Learning Plan (SLP). The purpose of the SLP is to make sure our students get the help needed to stay on track and graduate from high school. The plan will outline:

Goals for the student to meet while pursuing his/her studies
A culminating project (like a college thesis) which the student must complete upon graduation
A forecast of courses that the student wishes to take during the iQ Academy Washington program
A 13th-year plan for what the student hopes to do in his/her first year after graduation.

What tools are available for students to communicate with each other?

We have a feature in our secure, online student classroom area that enables students to participate in discussion boards with other iQ Academy students. Topics of discussion may include music, books, movies, politics, sports, etc. These discussion boards are monitored by iQ Academy staff and provide a great way for students to talk about their talents and interests.

What role do the teachers play in iQ Academy Washington?

The teachers play an important role in the iQ Academy program. It is the role of the teachers to meet individual learning needs of the students enrolled in their courses. Teachers hold "office hours" and provide weekly online course instruction via Elluminate where students can ask questions and have discussions with their teacher and classmates. Teachers are also available by phone and email, and students are encouraged to contact their teachers with questions.

There are some things that you can do as a parent/guardian to help your child to be successful in iQ Academy:

Help them set up a schedule for school to follow every day. Students should plan on approximately one hour of work per day for every class they are enrolled in, plus some extra time for outside readings or writing papers.
Provide an area for them to work that has limited distractions and where all their materials are available to them.

Encourage them to discuss their work with you. These discussions can give you clues as to whether they understand the materials and the assignments, and potential problems can be headed off before they turn into bigger problems.

FAQs: General

How do we know if iQ Academy is the right school for us?

We invite you to contact us and learn as much as you can about what iQ Academy has to offer you and your child. Getting as much information as possible is the best way to make an informed choice.

How much time does it take to complete a one-credit course?

iQ Academy Washington runs on a school year calendar. A one-credit course is designed to take 36 weeks or about 180 hours. As a general guideline, in addition to the time you spend online, you should also count on spending time reading, completing assignments, and studying for tests and exams. Therefore, you may need to spend approximately 180 hours to complete a course worth one high school credit. This time is a guideline and will vary according to course, study habits, etc. You should assume that a half-credit course will take half as much time as a one-credit course.

Where can I get a course pace chart?

Course pace charts are provided in each course. These charts will help you plan your work so that you will complete the course by the end of the school year. Pace charts are typically found in the Course Information tab.

How will I be evaluated?

Progress is measured through quizzes, exams, written essays, assignments, projects and semester exams.

How do I get help from my teachers if I am having difficulty with my course(s)?

Your teachers will provide feedback on any assignments or projects you complete. You can also contact your teacher via email or through the course message center. In addition, each teacher has regularly scheduled online office hours. During the scheduled time, students interact with the teacher and other students in a virtual classroom.