South Carolina Connections Academy, the virtual public charter school serving students in grades K-12 from across South Carolina, received high marks from parents with students enrolled in the school according to the recently-released results of a Parent Satisfaction Survey.

According the annual Connections Academy survey, which is administered by a third party, 92 percent of parents with students enrolled in South Carolina Connections Academy give the school a grade of “A” or “B” —a result that stands well above public school ratings from the 43rd Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward The Public Schools*, in which 79 percent of public school parents gave the public school their oldest child attends an “A” or a “B” grade.

In addition, 96 percent of parents said that South Carolina Connections Academy offers a high-quality curriculum, while 91 percent of parents said that their students were making good academic progress.

Ninety-five percent of parents recommend South Carolina Connections Academy to other families and an impressive 96 percent of parents said that their students were satisfied with the program. Other highlights include:

96 percent of parents are satisfied with the helpfulness of their child’s teacher

94 percent of parents agree that the technology improves the learning experience

92 percent of parents said that South Carolina Connections Academy teachers improve the learning experience

91 percent of parents agree that their child can learn at his/her own pace

More than half of families (about 1,300 families) with students enrolled in the virtual school at the time of the survey responded to the survey. Survey methodology is noted below.

Enrollment and Information Sessions

In response to interest from South Carolina families – there have been nearly 32,000 requests for information from across the state since the school launched in 2008 – South Carolina Connections Academy is hosting free information sessions across the state for families to meet with a school representative, explore the program and curriculum, and learn more about the enrollment process. Real-time virtual information sessions are also being offered. For more information, visit www.SouthCarolinaConnectionsAcademy.com.

At South Carolina Connections Academy students learn from home under the instruction of South Carolina-certified teachers through online lessons and phone calls structured to fit a student’s individualized learning needs and schedule. A parent, or “Learning Coach,” also plays an integral role in the education of a student, serving to monitor academic progress in the home.

Learning outside of the traditional classroom can be a great fit for all types of students including those who are significantly ahead or behind in the classroom, those who would benefit from individualized learning and those who require a flexible schedule. Homebound and previously home-schooled students can also thrive in Connections Academy’s program.

South Carolina Connections Academy combines highly-qualified teachers, a standards-aligned curriculum and unique technology tools to help students succeed, while also encouraging social growth through numerous electives, clubs and community events. South Carolina Connections Academy is operated in partnership with the South Carolina Public Charter School District.

Upcoming information sessions

Camden

Thursday, July 12, 6:30-8 p.m.

AllStaff Occupational Health Services Meeting Facility

2513 Broad St.

Lexington

Thursday, July 26 5:30-7 p.m.

Lexington Main Library

5440 Augusta Rd.

Lexington, SC 29072

Rock Hill

Tuesday, July 31, 6:30-8 p.m.

Baxter Hood Center at York Technical College

452 S. Anderson Rd.

Rock Hill, SC 29730

Parent Satisfaction Survey Methodology

Connections Academy conducts its annual Parent Satisfaction Survey to find out how its parents, guardians and Learning Coaches grade the program in several key areas. The 2011–12 survey was conducted from Jan. 17 to Feb. 29 by L.J. Shapiro and Associates, an independent market research company which created the questionnaire, collected the data, and tabulated the results. No individual responses were accessible to Connections Academy. A WebMail invitation was sent to each parent, and one response per household was submitted.