One way that students can fill their new nine-block schedule is by taking an online course for credit. 

This opportunity allows Schechter Westchester sophomores, juniors, and seniors to take courses that have never before been offered at the school, including JAVA Programming, Sociology, Art History, Criminology and Contemporary Issues in American Law and Justice. According to program coordinator and High School Judaic studies teacher Rabbi Abby Sosland, providing access to these online courses allows SW students to customize their education. “We are always striving to be more student centered,” says Sosland. “We want our students to have the experience of high school that they need.”

SW Head of School Michael Kay selected Virtual High School, a certified digital secondary school, to provide the online instruction. Virtual High School has a reputation for offering high-quality classes taught by experienced and engaging teachers. “Digital learning is happening on every campus throughout the world,” says Sosland, “so we knew that exposing our students to this format would be educational in and of itself.” When choosing the initial course offerings, Sosland considered student input and also prioritized classes taught by highly-rated instructors. 

The online courses are rigorous and include six to eight hours per week of self-directed study. While students can complete their work on a flexible schedule, Sosland recommends that they take these classes in conjunction with a study hall. She also tries to organize cohorts of students for each class so they will have built-in peer support. And although final grades will be listed on students’ transcripts, they will not count toward their GPA.