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Some Frequently Asked Questions about Alger Learning Center & Independence High School What is the time frame for enrollment in the Alger Learning Center/Independence High School? Students may enroll anytime, all year around. Are your programs designed specifically or solely for "gifted" learners? Far from it. By making curriculum student-centered and flexible, we create an atmosphere where students of all types can learn what they want to learn at a rate and in a way that works best for them. Although students who are already highly capable, self-directed independent learners do well in our programs, we have for many years served the educational needs of a broad spectrum of diverse students who have achieved success through the Alger Learning Center experience.
These include (but are not limited to): homeschoolers who need regular contact with a local certified teacher, students who require credit retrieval, students who have been suspended from or had to drop out of a public school for attendance or health reasons, and students who need more individualized instruction and custom curriculum. We have also worked with students combining independent learning with global travel, or employment/career opportunities, and have helped many students who desire to graduate ahead of the public schools' schedule. How do students graduate ahead of schedule? Because students can work at their own chosen rate, and our programs are offered year-round, we have had many students graduate and enter colleges, trade schools, or careers at younger ages than their public school peers. How many credits are required to graduate from high school and receive an official Washington State diploma? The Washington State minimum requirement is 19 credits (see below). We consider students' future plans and ambitions when designing classes and setting up curricula, so they can attain the extra credits they may require for admission to four-year colleges. Credits required to graduate:
One credit equals 150 hours of learning activities; one half credit equals 75 hours.
Don't homeschoolers have trouble getting accepted by the best schools? Recent studies reported in The Wall Street Journal, TIME magazine, and other publications have shown home-schooled students receiving consistently higher scores on college entrance exams than their traditionally schooled peers. Officials at many top colleges and universities quoted in these articles have expressed a very high level of interest in admitting homeschoolers and independent learners. Graduates of the Alger Learning Center/Independence High School have been accepted by many colleges and universities, including Amherst College, Drexel College, Evergreen State College, the Julliard School, Reed College, Sarah Lawrence College, the Seattle Art Institute, St. John University, the University of Asia (Tokyo), the University of London, the University of Manitoba, the University of North Carolina, the University of Washington, Washington State University, Wells College, and Western Washington University (including Fairhaven College), and among others. My child is not particularly motivated. How could a program like this possibly help him/her achieve success, when other programs have failed? The primary purpose of traditional public educational systems is not to provide motivation for the student; the lock-step "bell system," with its restrictive, structured environment, and attendance-based, mandatory curricula, cannot create an atmosphere conducive to motivating anyone. Our approach is decidedly different from the mainstream. We believe that learning is a lifelong process, and one that requires lots of freedom and self-direction if it is to be truly rewarding and satisfying. We see unschooling as an important first step for some in freeing themselves to experience real and meaningful learning. In the various programs we offer, we have deliberately sought out teachers who enjoy being able to help children become self-motivated, independent learners. Our teachers are dedicated to helping students achieve success and self-esteem through an open-minded approach to education that allows for maximum freedom and creativity. Students and their parents work with our staff to design classes that reflect the student's interests, goals, and learning styles. They are allowed, to the greatest degree possible, to determine what they want to learn, how they will learn it, and at what pace. The freedom to learn about what really interests you is one of the best motivators of all.
Does the Alger Learning Center & Independence High School represent or espouse any religious, ideological, or political movements or points of view? The Alger Learning Center & Independence High School is nonpartisan, nonsectarian, and nondiscriminatory. Our commitment is to freedom in learning, and excellence in creating an educational environment where that freedom may be nurtured and prosper.
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