How to Thrive This Back-to-School Season

It’s hard to believe it’s 2025, especially when you consider how much the education landscape has changed even just in the last five years. Pre-pandemic, things like AI weren’t as large components of education as they are now. Here some relevant trends to be aware of for the 2025 school year that may point you towards a switch to a digital platform:

1. Continued advancement in AI
2. Further growth of online learning
3. More homeschooling options

Read more: Is Penn Foster High School Homeschooling?

There are several reasons why online school is gaining traction. Some of these reasons include:

• Flexibility. Online high school programs are often self-paced, allowing learners to do schoolwork on their own time.
• Safety. Concerns over safety in traditional school settings continue to grow. Online schooling allows students to earn their diploma from the comfort and safety of their own home.
• Personalization. The level of personalization achievable varies by program or school, but advancements in technology as well as the ability to move at the pace that works best for them can make online school a more individualized experience.
• Inclusivity. Students with disabilities, health issues, or those lacking the transportation necessary to get to in-person school can benefit from the convenience of online school.

Thais Lyro, Chief Product Officer at Penn Foster Group, explains, “In my head, personalization of education comes from the principle of where you are on a knowledge base. So, I’m in college, but actually my math is at the 6th grade level—then the experience should let you go back and build from there to college math. It's not about where you are supposed to be, it's about helping you get there.” She goes on to say that “Online school can be the best solution for many people because of the flexibility. You can study at 2:00 AM if that’s your time. It meets you where you are.”

The online education industry’s growth is expected to continue, potentially reaching 995.9 million users by 2029.

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Online high school programs are a fantastic option for those who face a variety of struggles in traditional school. Test anxiety, bullying, social pressures, and difficulty keeping up with peers are all issues that are either eliminated or made easier in online school. The lack of due dates for exams and often self-paced nature allow students who have a hard time learning their material to take their time and only take exams when they feel ready. Students also have the ability to study from anywhere when enrolled in online school, meaning you can go on vacation or travel for sports if that’s something you’re heavily involved in without sacrificing schoolwork.

If you’re enduring negative experiences such as bullying in traditional school, switching to online school might be the perfect solution. Since all your work is done from the safety of your own home (or wherever you choose to study), you won’t be in the line of fire of bullies. You can complete high school in peace, and maybe even earlier than your peers still attending in-person school.

Read more: Q&A With a Penn Foster High School Parent

There are several online high school programs out there, but not all of them are legit. It’s important to do research to ensure you are enrolling in a program that will be recognized as meeting the standard of accrediting bodies.

Once you’ve ruled out any that lack accreditation, you can begin diving deeper into what the programs offer. What is the curriculum like? Are there support services? Instructors? Is it affordable? These are factors that could make or break your decision.

Read more: Are Online High School Diplomas Legitimate?

Time management can often be a student’s worst enemy, and the struggle can feel even more real in an educational structure that’s void of due dates and set timeframes for completion. Here are some tips to help you manage your time in online school and stay on track:

• Create a daily study schedule.
• Set small, actionable goals within larger goals to make achieving them feel more manageable.
• Designate a quiet, private study space within your home (if able).
• Download helpful apps that aid in accountability.
• Limit recreational screen time during designated study hours.

Read more: 10 Study Tips from Real Students (Study Guide)

While back to school season can often come with a hefty price tag for traditional students – after all, they need new school supplies, new clothes, and more – there's often not as much needed when you go to school online.

When you’re enrolled in online school, you really only need an internet connection. While a computer makes working through these programs easier, it’s usually possible to complete work on a smart phone. There is no necessary wardrobe revamps in online school. In fact, students can log on in their pajamas!

While you may want to buy some standard necessities, like notebooks, pencils, and such, they aren’t required. Some typical supplies students in online high school may need to start their school year include:

• A laptop or desktop computer; or, in some cases, a tablet or smartphone works as well.
• A reliable internet connection.
• An email address.
• Some helpful apps for students – notetaking apps or productivity apps can be super useful!
• Pens/pencils.
• Notebooks.
• Access to a word processing system like Word or Google Docs.
• A dedicated study space.

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There may be concerns about adequate socialization in online school, especially from parents. Many online programs have designated spaces where students can interact with each other. If this is absent, they likely have social media pages where students can connect and even plan meetups.

Outside of the program, learners are able to participate in any extracurricular activities they choose, like sports and clubs, and can continue to socialize with any friends they have outside of the program. Students may find they have more time for social activities they enjoy by being enrolled in online high school since the self-paced nature allows for more freedom in their day.

For example, 2025 Penn Foster High School grad, Jarvis Burds, said that the flexibility of online learning really made a difference. “Penn Foster’s flexible approach gave me the power to own my learning,” he said, ‘while making an impact such as playing competitive tennis, traveling the world, and founding a nonprofit organization in my community. This fall, I’ll begin college. I am already accepted into several universities, with a dream of becoming a surgeon.”

Read more: You Can't Get into College with an Online High School Diploma (and Other Myths about Online High School)

There are many things you’ll need to be ready to head back to school as a traditional student going to a brick-and-mortar building every day.

• school supplies
  • pens/pencils
  • highlighters
  • notebooks
  • calculator
  • book covers
  • binders
  • planner
• uniforms or appropriate clothes that follow the school’s dress code
• knowledge or a map of the school building(s)

In online school, you just need an internet connection, a device to connect to it, and your login credentials. Success can be just around the corner with a convenient online high school program.

As you’re getting ready to head back to school, here’s a helpful checklist to set you up for success from day one!

• Make sure you set some realistic goals – whether you’re an online high school student or going back to public school, having goals at the beginning of the year can help you start off on the right foot.
• Plan out study time – school is important, but it’s probably not all you’ve got going on and the fun plans you have can sometimes feel more important than schoolwork. Instead of picking one or the other, plan time to study each week, whether it’s for an hour per week or 15 minutes per day.
• Make sure you’ve got the supplies you need.
• Make sure your computer or tablet is in good working order.
• Make sure you have a dedicated space to study.
• Loop your family or friends into your school plans so you have a support system to keep you on track.

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The back-to-school season doesn’t have to fill you with stress and anxiety. Now that you’ve learned how online high school works and the benefits of it, you and your parents or guardians might feel it’s the right fit for you. If you want more information on how Penn Foster High School works and the enrollment process, you can request it through our website or call our admissions department at 1-800-275-4410. Begin to thrive your way this back-to-school season online!