Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
Sophia Sorensen isn't like most teenagers. That's because most teenagers aren't representing their state and country in a sport like luge.
Luge is a winter olympic sport where athletes lie on their backs on a small sled, racing down an icy track at freeway speeds.
It's not for the faint of heart.
Sophia's dedication to her sport landed her a place on the USA Luge Youth A team, as well as several top-of-the-podium finishes.
With only two luge tracks in the U.S., she travels frequently, often competing in such far-off places as Lake Placid, Latvia, and Germany.
But like most teenagers, this South Jordan teen still has to keep up on her schoolwork, no matter how many medals she wins.
Luckily for her, Utah Online School has helped her to stay on track — in every sense.
How Utah Online School benefits busy, traveling students
Because competing at a high level requires so much travel, Sophia frequently finds herself outside of a traditional classroom setting, making her coursework largely self-directed.
With Utah Online, she can access her classes anytime, anywhere, as long as she has an internet connection.
This kind of flexibility has taken a huge burden off of this busy student-athlete. Admitting that she sometimes falls behind on schoolwork during travel days, she's grateful that Utah Online allows her to make a plan to catch up to meet the required deadlines.
"I am able to do my work when my schedule allows, and I don't feel rushed or pressured.," she says.
Sophia's experience supports research, including one study published by the National Library of Medicine, showing that flexible learning environments help kids stay engaged and thrive academically.
But you don't have to be a busy athlete to reap the rewards of online learning.
Utah Online School is open to anyone who could use extra support, graduate early, or simply a schedule that works better for them.
Enroll in summer school
Will you change it to enrollment for Utah Online summer school is now open. Classes run from June 1 to July 27.
Classes are free and fully online, allowing students to work from anywhere, even while traveling.
It's a great option for students who want to get ahead or catch up on missed work or lower grades.
Enrollment for summer credit recovery opens May 1..
Participate in split enrollment
Another way to experience Utah Online is through split enrollment.
This allows students to attend their local boundary school in person and take advantage of classes online too.
Many families choose this option when extracurricular activities compete for time or when a student's schedule doesn't allow for all the classes they want.
Replace a poor grade on your transcript
Utah Online's grade replacement option offers students a chance to improve a grade that may be lowering their GPA by taking an original credit course online.
Grade replacement actually replaces the original grade with the new replaced grade.
Recover necessary credits
Sometimes students fall behind for a variety of reasons. If that happens, Utah Online offers courses to help them make up missed credits needed for graduation. Credit recovery is also available for failed credits.
Students meet with a counselor, register for classes and complete coursework within the quarter or semester.
Browse the long list of course offerings
One of the most surprising things about Utah Online School is the sheer number of courses available.
Virtually classes you'd encounter at your local high school are an option. The catalog varies by grade and semester, but the general list includes:
- Art and music.
- Career tech (CTE).
- Digital studies.
- Financial literacy.
- Language arts.
- Mathematics.
- Physical and health education.
- Science.
- Social studies.
- World languages.
- Other electives.
Elementary students can learn coding. Middle schoolers can earn P.E. credit. High school students can take ACT prep courses.
To see the full list of classes available for each grade and time of year, visit Utah Online's course listing page.
See what Utah Online School can do for you
Loved by students and parents alike, Utah Online School is becoming part of more Utah families' stories. Once you see the possibilities, you may wonder why you didn't enroll sooner.
Freedom, flexibility and options benefit everyone. Learn more about enrollment, classes and teachers at utahonline.org.
