High school students come in all varieties and each develops at a different pace. A regular diploma and then a local two-year college may be the right choice initially for the average family. However, greater flexibility can truly be necessary for those students whose grades have fallen badly; for those whose irregular attendance caused them to miss things of importance; for those whose families have had to move a lot due to military assignments; or for those who want to accelerate through their high school years.

For some, getting into California State University’s California Polytechnic Institute, or into the University of California system, or into Stanford, or into the Ivies may be their dearest wish. If that’s the case, one grade of D on their record can signal NO to the admissions office.

This year, California schools may have a suggestion to offer. It’s called Cyber High and it’s available to schools everywhere. It was designed by the Fresno County Board of Education in conjunction with Fresno Unified School District. It permits any school to allow its students to take classes online using a home computer or one at the school. At Galileo Academy of Science and Technology, San Francisco Chronicle’s Jill Tucker interviewed Principal Vicki Pesek and Assistant Principal Nancy Lambert on the effectiveness of using the program. “It’s made college a possibility for students that wouldn’t have been able to go,” Nancy Lambert said. (In June the number of students heading for four-year colleges had increased by 15 %.) She added, “It’s also preventing students from dropping out of high school.” Those who are failing now have a way to catch up, and make up the work they haven’t done.

All Cyber High courses fulfill requirements for the UC and CSU systems. The costs to the school are $12 per unit, with five units per course. “I think it’s fantastic,” said Vicki Pesek. “It’s kind of expensive; but it’s worth it.” For a full list of classes available, see the website.