In today’s world, students face many choices about their future. Traditional in-person schooling has always been one option, but increasingly, online schools like Pearson’s Connections Academy are offering a variety of new paths.
Connections Academy is tuition-free online public school for grades K-12 that also focuses on helping students get ready for life after high school. From the aspiring nurse to the budding musician, Connections Academy gives young dreamers the foundation for life through personalized learning that works for them.
Preparing for the future means knowing that today’s students want a balance between school and life more than ever.
And this balance looks different for everyone.
Connections Academy’s School/Life Balance Report Card, a recent survey of over 1,000 students in grades 8-12 and 1,000 parents or guardians across the U.S., found some trends that can help educators and parents assist students in bridging the gap between school and life responsibilities and activities.
The research shows that less than half of students feel they have an excellent or good school/life balance, yet 80% of parents think their child manages this balance well.
An off-balance juggle of school and life responsibilities, as well as the big disconnect between students and parents about how the students are managing, can lead to depression, stress and anxiety in teens. These challenges leave them less prepared to handle pressure and less likely to succeed in school and later in life. Students with an excellent or good school/life balance know what career they are most interested in and feel more confident about their ability to get a job in their desired field compared to those with fair to very poor balance.
That’s why well-being is key to career readiness. Connections Academy is paving the way for today’s students by highlighting school/life balance as one of the best indicators for future success.
Real-world skills right now
More than 75% of high school students want to build skills for in-demand jobs, but many feel anxious about making the right choices for their future.
Connections Academy understands these concerns and has launched new initiatives to help. Through partnerships with Credly, Coursera, Acadeum and industry-aligned curriculum vendors, Connections Academy offers students a clear path to college and career success.
Connections Academy’s College and Career Readiness offering is a key part of this effort. It gives middle and high school students curated learning experiences in fields like IT, business and healthcare. This program connects students with employers and organizations like The Home Depot, the SEMI Foundation and HOSA-Future Health Professionals, as well as internships and specialized classes that smoothly transition to higher education or industry certifications.
A unique feature of Connections Academy’s College and Career Readiness offering is the tri-credit approach. This means that select courses provide high school credit from Connections Academy, industry-recognized micro-credentials through Coursera, and eligibility for college credit toward over 150 bachelor’s degree programs in the U.S. This approach saves students time and money, optimizing their learning outcomes.
Jasmine Krueger from Mason City, Iowa, took full advantage of these opportunities. While attending Iowa Connections Academy, she dually enrolled in courses at Iowa Western Community College and earned a Meta Social Media Marketing Certification through Coursera. She graduated high school with college credits and a valuable industry certification, putting her ahead of her peers as she pursues a career in communications or speech pathology.
School/life balance key for career success
Having a good school/life balance is crucial for student success. Connections Academy’s research shows that 76% of students with a good or excellent school/life balance know which career they want to pursue, compared to only 62% of those with fair to very poor balance. Students with an excellent or good balance also are more likely to have high grade point averages and adopt healthy habits like staying hydrated, exercising and getting enough sleep.
Connections Academy helps students achieve this balance by offering a flexible schedule that allows them to pursue personal interests and hobbies, as well as take breaks when they need them.
Mulan Snyder from Camulet, Oklahoma, graduated at just 16 years old with both a high school diploma and an associate degree. The flexible schedule at Oklahoma Connections Academy enabled her to become a page for the Oklahoma House of Representatives and volunteer for organizations that address her passion — fighting food insecurity. This balance of academics and personal development has set her up for future success in her planned career in corporate law.
“The teachers at Oklahoma Connections Academy have helped me to become more confident in my learning capabilities, even helping me with strategies that applied to what I was learning in a college classroom,” she said.
Top tactics: Time management and peer support
The research shows that students also benefit from strong peer support and effective time management strategies. Engaging with peers, prioritizing work and organizing tasks with a calendar or planner are top tactics students in the survey said they use to balance school and life. Parents reported playing a role too, often encouraging time management and promoting breaks from schoolwork.
Joshua Nageli from Castle Rock, Colorado, exemplifies how Connections Academy supports students in managing their time and pursuing their passions. He dreams of becoming an astronaut and has already interned with the Colorado Space Business Roundtable. This experience, along with being a finalist in the National STEM Challenge and part of a robotics team for FIRST Robotics Competitions, has given him valuable exposure to the aerospace industry.
Connections Academy’s flexible schedule allowed Nageli to immerse himself in these opportunities without compromising his schoolwork.
How parents can help
Connections Academy focuses not only on academic and career readiness but also on developing essential soft skills, including communication, problem-solving and teamwork. In recent Pearson Skills Outlook research, employers reported prioritizing these human skills in recruiting early talent. Students develop these skills by participating in various clubs, internships and specialized classes, all of which are crucial in any career.
Parents can help their teens by sharing lessons and experiences from their own lives, too: 72% of parents say they wish they had explored different careers before graduating, and 67% regret not learning better time management and multi-tasking skills.
Both parents and students agree that real-world, work-based experiences are the most valuable resources when exploring potential career paths. And by prioritizing teens’ well-being, parents will discover this leads to clarity on their students’ way to success in both career and life.
Connections Academy is leading the way in preparing students for the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow. With flexible schedules, career-focused programs and opportunities to earn college credit and industry certifications, Connections Academy helps students balance school and life while equipping them for the workforce — and a bright future.
Learn more today about Connections Academy, a tuition-free, online public school for grades K-12 available in 31 states across the U.S. that lets students learn in a way that works best for them while maintaining the school/life balance that’s key to success.
