LAS VEGAS -- Online schools are growing in popularity especially in Nevada. Enrollment grew by 80 percent from last year to this year for the Virtual High School.
It's a matter of matching the need and motivation of a student with the right technology and setting.
"I got diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma," said Dominique Quattrini who was a freshman student at Silverado High School when her battle with cancer caused her to attend virtual school.
"I could still do my classes even laying in a hospital bed, I could still log on and get things done and feel somewhat normal because kids going through treatment don't always feel like they have a place," she said.
She beat cancer and went back to her traditional school but -- in the end -- decided her online experience was a better fit.
"It's more calm and relaxing and you could do it at home. You don't have to get up at a certain time," she said.
Students in the Virtual High School program do appear in person at school for labs, tests and tutoring.
"It's not really distance anymore, it's changed so much that it's becoming more and more like a normal classroom," said Brenda Hernandez. foreign language teacher. She taught at a traditional brick and mortar school for 10 years and now has taught online for 10. She teaches 400 students online.
Because of this technology, Hernandez can be the sole Spanish instructor for other Clark County schools coping with budget cuts like Boulder City High School. The school is based out of the Vegas PBS building that opened in July.
Administrators there make it a point to emphasize extracurricular activities. "Social activities, community service projects and other kinds of things to give kids a really well-rounded high school experience," said Tom Axtell, Vegas PBS.
Virtual High School's enrollment has increased by nearly 2,000 students from last year and there are 59 seniors expected to graduate this summer. Aside from high school, the school also offers adult education courses and training for unemployed Nevadans.
