Students in Grades K-12 Give Connections Academy Virtual Schools High Marks in Annual Survey
Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) July 30, 2015 -- Connections Academy, a virtual school provider serving students in 26 states*, has released results from its 2015 student satisfaction survey. Over 12,000 students in grades K-12 responded to the annual third-party survey. Age-appropriate surveys were tailored to grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. See below for survey methodology.
The results come on the heels of Connections Academy’s Parent Satisfaction Survey and provide insight into overall family attitudes towards virtual school. Ninety percent of all students surveyed indicated satisfaction (with 64% being “very satisfied”) with Connections Academy; up from 89% in 2014. Similarly, parents recommend Connections Academy at a rate of 93%. This high level of recommendation is one reason why, year-to-date, over 140,000 families have requested information about enrollment for the fall of 2015. Enrollment for the 2015-16 school year is currently underway.
Students echoed their parent’s opinions about the helpfulness of their teachers with 94% of students in grades 6-12 stating that they are satisfied with the helpfulness of their teacher (91% of students in grades K-2 and 85% of students in grades 3-5 “liked their teacher a lot”). Ninety-six percent of all parents surveyed expressed satisfaction with the helpfulness of their child's teacher.
The student survey also revealed that ~55% of online school students in grades 6-12 still deem print books “essential,” even when the electronic version is available, although this number has dropped since last year (down 8% for grades 6-8 and 5% for grades 9-12). Connections Academy-supported schools offer a mix of online and print texts; use varies by state and by grade. At the same time, 80% of students in grades 6-12 agreed the use of the computer and Connexus® (Connections Academy’s Education Management System) improved their learning experience.
Other survey highlights are noted in the attached graph and below (note that grade ranges indicate the grades in which the question was asked, no data has been removed).
“Both the student and parent satisfaction surveys are key elements of our overall accountability framework; they show what we are doing well and where we can improve,” commented Dr. Patricia Hoge, chief academic officer for Connections Academy. “Continuous improvement is a theme at Connections Academy and we appreciate and value the input from the families we serve – we are committed to finding what works best in online education.”
Enrollment for the 2015-2016 school year is going on now and information sessions are taking place across the country for families interested in learning more about Connections Academy virtual public schools. Visit http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com to learn more.
Other Survey Highlights:
Gave Connections Academy a grade of “A” or “B”
- Students in grades 3-12: 83%
- Parents: 90%
Agreed that they (or their children) are making good progress
- Students in grades 6-12: 86%
- Parents: 91%
Agreed that they (or their children) are enjoying the program
- Students in grades 6-12: 84%
- Parents: 89%
Stated that they are more satisfied with Connections Academy that their previous school
- Students in grades 6-12: 83%
- Parents: 84%
Survey Methodology:
Connections Academy conducts the annual student satisfaction survey to find out how students grade the program in several key areas. The 2015 survey was conducted from March 9 to April 3, 2015 by the Key Group, an independent market research company which created the questionnaire, collected the data, and tabulated the results. No individual responses were accessible to Connections Academy. Over 12,000 students in grades K-12 responded to the survey.
*Reflects 2015-2016 school year. The student satisfaction survey for the 2014-15 school year references schools in 25 states.
About Connections Academy
Connections Academy is a leading provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual schooling for students in grades K through 12. Through tuition-free public schools, and full-time and part-time private school programs, Connections Academy delivers superior, personalized education for students, with the freedom and flexibility to experience a virtual learning community from anywhere. The combination of certified teachers, a proven curriculum, technology tools, and community experiences creates a supportive and successful online learning opportunity for families and children who want an individualized approach to education. In the 2015–16 school year, 30 Connections Academy-supported full-time virtual public schools will serve students in 26 states. It serves students worldwide through the online private school, International Connections Academy. Connections Academy offers grades K through 12, though some public school programs do not offer all grades. For more information, call 800-382-6010 or visit http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com. Connections Academy and its parent company, Connections Education, are part of the global learning company Pearson (NYSE:PSO).
Allison Bazin, Connections Education, +1 (609) 247-0275, [email protected]
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