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The key to helping your child achieve academic success may be summed up in one word: flexibility. A study published in July 2023 by ResearchGate found that flexibility is "an important factor in enhancing students' well-being and learning."
For high-achieving students juggling busy extracurricular schedules, flexibility is essential. Take Annabelle Shaw, a seventh grader at Utah Online School, for example. She believes that online education has been the key to unlocking her potential.
Since enrolling at UOS, Annabelle's diverse talents in music, math, business and fencing have flourished. She's not only thriving academically but also excelling in competitions around the world. Annabelle's achievements clearly demonstrate how the flexibility offered by UOS supports students with diverse interests and demanding schedules.
Here's how UOS helped her reach her goals — and how it might help your child, too.
A rising star in music and mathematics
Annabelle's passion for music has taken her to international stages. In 2022, she earned Third Prize at the Vienna Classical Music Academy International Classical Music Competition at the renowned Wiener Konzerthaus in Vienna, Austria.
In 2023, Annabelle performed at the "Chopin in the City" Art Festival at the Polish Museum of America in Chicago, followed by a Second Prize win at the American Virtuoso International Music Competition. That same year, she had the honor of performing at the Winner's Recital at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Her accomplishments don't stop at the piano. In mathematics, Annabelle's dedication has earned her recognition on the national stage. In 2024, she received the Maryam Mirzakhani American Mathematics Competition 8 Certificate of Excellence from the Mathematics Association of America and was included on the national honor roll for the AMC 8 competition.
Most recently, Annabelle scored a perfect score in the AMC 8, propelling her to the next level of the AMC. With plans to take the American Invitational Mathematics Exam, she continues to push the boundaries of her academic potential.
Yet despite her many accolades, Annabelle has remained committed to balancing these demanding pursuits with her education. She credits Utah Online School with providing the structure and support necessary to succeed in both her academic and extracurricular activities.
Why Utah Online School works for Annabelle
For Annabelle, UOS offers more than just the ability to complete coursework from home. The flexibility of an online school allows her to take on multiple college-level courses while participating in activities that span the globe.
Through a concurrent enrollment partnership with Utah Tech University, Annabelle has already completed four college courses, including college algebra, statistics, trigonometry and computer programming, earning straight A's in each. This has allowed her to get a jump start on her higher education while maintaining her top ranking in her class.
But she hasn't done it alone.
I like UOS because the teachers are very supportive and I feel like you can get more individual attention and help here. I feel like the teachers at UOS care so much more.
–Annabelle Shaw, Utah Online School student
"I like UOS because the teachers are very supportive and I feel like you can get more individual attention and help here," she says. "I feel like the teachers at UOS care so much more."
By the time she completes her high school education, Annabelle expects to complete a total of 13 concurrent courses. This academic progress, coupled with her extracurricular success, demonstrates the power of personalized, flexible education.
Managing a heavy schedule
Most people would find Annabelle's schedule a bit daunting, but she's learned to manage it with the help of UOS.
"Sometimes multitasking could be overwhelming," Annabelle admits. In the fall of 2024, she took three college-level courses in mathematics and computer science, along with a high school physics class. As if that weren't enough, she also participated in the American Mathematics Competition 10 and recorded a few piano pieces for international piano competitions.
"I felt exhausted by so many challenging activities within just one semester, but I am glad that I managed these activities well and everything worked out as planned."
Her ability to handle multiple responsibilities at once is a testament to the adaptability and time management skills that UOS helps students develop. For talented students with diverse interests, UOS offers an education that is both rigorous and supportive, allowing students to pursue their passions while achieving academic success.
Supporting every student's unique journey
Utah Online School is a free public school that's open to all students from kindergarten to 12th grade who live anywhere in the state of Utah. As Annabelle's story demonstrates, UOS goes well beyond traditional education by offering a pathway to help students excel in all aspects of their lives. With a supportive teaching staff, flexible scheduling and opportunities for college credit, UOS provides students like Annabelle with the tools they need to excel in school and beyond.
For students with talents and dreams that extend far beyond the classroom, Utah Online School is the perfect environment to nurture their growth and set them up for a future of success. To find out more, visit utahonline.org today.
