We're often asked by parents interested in online learning about what other parents have to say. Parents wonder about the experience of an online program, the pro's and con's, the challenges of what to expect with at-home learning, and how successful students can be.
Here are the voices of parents, who like you, considered online learning as a better academic choice for their child. This is what they have to say:
"We are two weeks into the public school year and I am so thrilled to be blessed with ICA. My girls go to public school, but my son does ICA. I love being able to spend one-on-one time with him each morning, the fact that I am never getting "daily-report" emails or telephone calls from the school (he suffers from ADHD) and most of all, I am so proud of his grades. ICA is awesome and is a complete blessing to us." – Denise P.
"ICA is the B-E-S-T! Can't speak high enough of ICA. They are always there for us, helpful, kind, warm, funny – the program couldn't be easier to use. Run as fast as you can from public school. It does more harm than good. Do ICA, you will not regret it!" -Ann B.
"Let me tell you ICA is the best decision I made. The public school system is a joke in my opinion. It's overcrowded, ineffective, and so many of the kids have no values and have personalities that an immoral nation has raised. I recommend ICA 100%. It's never too late to enroll and the teachers and help phone lines are AMAZING. You have advisers that actually care about who you are and what you want to do as an adult profession and how you want your classes to be organized. It's a much, much better environment than public school." – Melanie W.
"Our son just graduated after being part of the Ignite Christian Academy (ICA) family for 7 years. We originally chose ICA because we wanted a sound Bible-based curriculum that would also prepare our son for college and "life after school." As we moved closer to junior high and high school years, we decided it was essential to have a structured set of courses. We used ICA's Switched-on-Schoolhouse (SOS) for 6th through 10th grades, a combination of SOS and LIFEPAC for 11th grade, and LIFEPAC only for 12th grade. The courses are appropriately challenging so that the extent and breadth of what is learned is of high quality. We found the curriculum to be so well rounded our son was well prepared for our annual standardized testing and for the SAT and ACT tests. We chose the college prep courses and our son was accepted into the college he really wanted to attend. A tremendous benefit with ICA is that they maintain all of the transcripts, and this was a VERY big plus for us for the high school years with college applications and our required state reporting. The ICA graduation ceremony was outstanding and we would not have closed out our season of home education any other way! We highly recommend ICA!" – Nancy W.
"I would like to thank all (at Ignite Christian Academy) for their quality and commitment to Christian education. I have been using ICA for seventeen years now, and I would do it all over again if replays in life were possible. Meghan will be the fourth student I have graduated using this program (ICA). My oldest, Ashton just graduated from Sul Ross State University with a major in History and a minor in English. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and was a member of many honor societies. She has been listed on the Dean's Honor List seven times throughout her college career. She plans on going to graduate school in the fall to pursue her Masters. She was taught with ICA curriculum since kindergarten and was a 2007 graduate. My son Kristofer currently works in our family business and is also a proud member of the U.S. Army where he is a Combat Engineer. He is a 2009 ICA graduate. Meghan, who just completed her last year in Ignite Christian Academy, will be pursuing college in the spring towards a degree in Social Work. As you can tell, I am very proud of my children and I know without a doubt that teaching my children using ICA's faith-based curriculum helped to shape and mold them into the fine young adults they are today. So again, thank you for enabling me to give them the best education possible. May God continue to bless your endeavors." – Tracy K.
"Thanks Ignite Christian Academy for all the work that was done in getting my daughter Sierra ready for university! I can't believe that she almost tested out of some of her classes. Thank you for being there. Thanks to the staff that worked with her. It really paid off for us. Now my son is coming through the program, he is 7th grade right now, but as soon as he hits 9th grade, he will be there. Thanks again to the Ignite Christian Academy Staff." – Dee H.
"I just want to take the time to say THANK YOU! I am praising the Lord daily for how things are going for us with Alpha Omega! The academy [is] working wonderfully for us. I am thoroughly enjoying my new role as helper and encourager instead of mistake-finder. The immediate feedback is something I've always thought should be inherent in homeschooling, but I was never able to make it work. Now, my kids are getting that! The flexibility of the scheduling in Switched-On Schoolhouse is incredible. And although I never really tested my children before, I can see that the quizzes and tests are motivating them to take their education more seriously. So even after a summer full of stress (and worry), with placement tests, the filing away of years of a much-loved literature-based curriculum, and applications for transfer credits, I am rejoicing now! It's been worth it all. Josiah, my oldest, high school junior, night-owl, dyslexic, procrastinating, computer-programmer, who still can't spell to save his life, is finishing his lessons in a timely fashion each day and not whining about his writing assignments. And from what I've seen, he's doing well! Our newly adopted 13-year-old son from Liberia is starting to take his schooling more seriously; seeking to understand, instead of just finish! Isaac, my organized, book-loving freshman appreciates the structure, finishes early and has time to read the books he wants to. And Abigail, who's been organized and diligent, but uninterested in understanding concepts, is taking notes and learning how to study! Thanks for your part–sharing, encouraging, explaining, reassuring. God is at work in our family. You watered and tended a seed someone else planted. God has grown it to a seedling, and I'm looking forward to watching it grow and produce fruit in our family!" – Kim H.
"We loved Ignite Christian Academy and highly recommend it. Our son did his junior and senior year here, and he was involved in the community and could minister to people on his own schedule since he could flex his schoolwork around what was happening. A number of other mission families did this too, and they also felt it gave their kids a great chance to enjoy the country they lived in before leaving for college. It keeps the family together rather than the stresses that families face with boarding school. I am really thankful for ICA!" – Kathy V.
"My daughter started her freshman year of HS in November with ICA. She had always gone to the public HS. It has been a big change for her, but I honestly think she is learning much more than she was in the traditional school setting. The school is supportive, helpful, teachers are available/concerned." – Molle K.
"My three kids have attended ICA for the past four years. It sure has improved one of my son's reading. They learn much more than the traditional school setting, and ICA has great curriculum. Not only is the education wonderful, the members of the academy are great and helpful." – Lourdes N.
"Our children aren't just sitting in class anymore, staring at the ceiling waiting for a lesson they already know to be done. With ICA, they are out there applying the Word of God and aren't hindered by being in a brick-and-mortar school." – Dari J.
At Ignite Christian Academy, we are happy to report that parents of our enrolled online students have had excellent experiences with our online distance learning school, whether they were a part of the student body for a semester or two, several years in high school, and some even taking courses from elementary through high school.
What's the reason you are considering online school? Tell us!