Bigfork offers high school diploma online

There are no boundaries in the virtual world of learning and Bigfork High School is taking advantage of that through Bigfork Digital High School.

The school first offered online classes four years ago through Virtual High School, an international online consortium of instructors teaching specialized courses such as American Popular Music and Nuclear Physics.

Virtual High School expanded electives that would not be feasible to offer at the school. Participation has been popular: Students have taken 140 classes.

Senior Amber McDaniel, 17, has taken five electives through the Virtual High School program and said students have to be ready to read a lot of text in the online courses.

“You have to be self-motivated,” McDaniel added.

McDaniel started taking online classes during her sophomore year. She is taking Latin and plans to take Psychology of Crime next.

“I like the variety,” McDaniel said. “There are so many classes.” 

With the success of the Virtual High School program, Bigfork looked to allow students to achieve a high school degree completely online. 

“We provided a lot of the quality electives at the school but we wanted to provide more we thought that in order to remain competitive [with larger schools] we needed another resource,” according to Matt Porrovecchio, principal at Bigfork High School (enrollment of 263 students).

Harnessing technology created that competitive edge.

With the advent of the Montana Digital Academy, run by the University of Montana, administrators saw that the Academy could provide core curriculum classes and Virtual High School could provide electives.

Combining the two would be enough for home-schooled students to graduate with a Bigfork High School diploma.

Last spring, the Bigfork Digital High School program was approved by Bigfork School District 38 board.

This year, the first two students are enrolled in Bigfork Digital High School.

Porrovecchio said the aim is to provide equal access to a diploma from an accredited high school to all students. He said the aim is not to replace the traditional high school experience.

“Families may have a want and a need to keep kids home-schooled. They pay taxes and live in the district so we believe they have a right to these services and we help facilitate that,” he said.

Classes are structured similarly to the traditional “bricks and mortar” classrooms of Bigfork High School: One teacher, a limited class size, weekly assignments, due dates, discussion and group projects. There is also a site coordinator/facilitator who monitors student progress.

Bigfork High School Counselor Christina Nadeau said accountability is just as high as in the traditional classroom. Students cannot put assignments off or not participate in discussions. Since international students participate in the Virtual High School component of Bigfork Digital High School, students are expected to work through holidays.

Online learning is not for everyone.

“If you’re not excited about a class in a regular classroom, it’s the same online, it doesn’t change,” Nadeau said.

Students also should be comfortable with using technology.

Nadeau does not consider Bigfork Digital High School to be an alternative to traditional high school, but an option.

“Home-school regulations in this state are not real specific. Families don’t have to go out and purchase curriculum. The curriculum available to them [by us]) is aligned with state standards,” Nadeau said.

With a high school diploma, transitions to other opportunities like college or military enlistment would be smoother, Nadeau said.

One drawback to students enrolled in the digital diploma program is that they cannot participate in Montana High School Association-sanctioned sports and activities unless they are in the building taking classes. Nadeau said she thinks this should change.

“I think we live in a time where that is not necessarily appropriate. A college doesn’t require that. The NCAA doesn’t require that. A student can still compete in a school sport if they’re taking online classes 100 percent at that university or college,” Nadeau said.

One thing staffers have learned is that technology has created big opportunities.

“Just because we’re a small high school doesn’t mean we have to think small or offer small,” Nadeau said.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.