Students of all ages who want to finish middle school or high school but cannot do so in regular schools for some reason, now have an alternative solution. They can enroll in an accredited private online high school and middle school home school based in Tampa, FL. Gulfside Academy is a virtual high school and middle school that offers home schooling programs toward earning a high school education and high school diploma.

Gulfside Academy is registered with the Florida Department of Education and the Hillsborough County School District.  It is likewise registered with The College Board for SAT, PSAT, NMSQT and its graduating students are required to take the SAT in order to be granted a high school diploma. In addition to that, the Academy is a member of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, the International Society for Technology Education and the National Coalition of Alternative and Community Schools.

Students can enroll at any level for middle school or high school. They can take all required subjects for their grade level online or they may take individual classes as credit for any deficiencies while currently enrolled in a physical school. Such individual classes may also be taken as advanced placement classes for college credit. Advanced honors classes are likewise available.

For middle school, 15 credits in total are required before promotion to high school. This is distributed equally among the 6th 7th, and 8th grades at five credits per school year in Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Physical Education and Art/Music/Health. Students are then strongly urged to take elective credits in Art, Instrumental Music or a Foreign Language. In the 7th or 8th grade, students can already take a Health Elective to meet a future high school graduation requirement.

For high school, the academic diploma requires 24 credits with a B average and no grade below C-. The online high school courses include English, Math, Science, World Languages, Social Studies, Fine Arts (Music, Art and Drama), Physical Education, Health and electives. For a regular high school diploma, World Languages and Fine Arts are not included but three units are added to electives to make up 21 to 24 credits.

Students can enroll online at any time of the year, not necessarily at the start of the official school year. Classes are accessible online 24 hours a day 365 days per year. There are no holidays. Students are therefore able to work on their own schedule and at their own pace. A student is given four to 16 weeks to complete work equivalent to an entire semester.

All educational materials needed by the students are made available online. No other books are needed. Courses are individualized and the rigorous curriculum is continually updated.

Teachers are certified for the subjects they are handling and have more than 15 years experience on the average. They work individually with students, providing guidance and constant feedback. The students’ parents and guardians are also urged to be in regular communication with teachers and the staff.

With an accredited private online high school and middle school home school program based in Tampa, FL like Gulfside Academy, getting a proper education is within the reach of more and more people.