This year, Laurel Springs School proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary as a distance learning school. Our school continues to honor its mission of providing mastery-based, relationship-based, flexible educational programs for students. In 1991, we were pioneers in developing quality educational home study options for students seeking alternatives to the traditional classroom setting. Today, the online education model has grown exponentially. Our years of dedication and our track record speak to our expertise in this field.
At its roots, our school focuses on the unique talents of individual students, as well as the power of a student’s natural curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. Laurel Springs School evolved from my vision of creating a collaborative educational program for homeschoolers. I felt strongly about providing an academic experience that met the specific needs of each of our students, in harmony with their learning styles, interests, and talents. I am proud to see that goal realized over the past twenty years.
Laurel Springs School is a vanguard in the field of distance learning. We started by offering text-based distance learning programs in 1991, and by 1994, Laurel Springs School had earned the distinction of becoming one of the first schools in the United States to successfully develop an online curriculum. In those early days, the Internet was a lot like the Wild West. Web links were often unstable, and modem connection speeds slow and at times unreliable. As the Internet matured, we were able to reach more students in countries around the world. We continued to enhance our courses, and invest in the most advanced online education tools, including a state-of-the-art learning management system, exceptional curriculum choices, and one-on-one support services with expert, caring teachers. I delight in the advancements I have seen since our simple beginnings.
With determination, our school’s focus on academic excellence achieved major milestones. In 1998, Laurel Springs courses were deemed by the University of California governing body as a-g approved. Shortly afterwards, in 2000, our school became the first distance learning school to receive accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). That same year, Laurel Springs became an approved member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and many of our high school courses received Division I and II approval. In 2005, our school gained membership in the prestigious National Honor Society and in 2011 we were invited to join the National Junior Honor Society. Our wonderful teachers and staff are proud of the numerous awards our school has received, including the United States Distance Learning Association Leadership Award and the United National Global 500 Award.
Over the past twenty years, Laurel Springs has strongly encouraged students’ participation in leadership programs. In 1991 our school initiated a student-led video production about environmental advocacy, which garnered international recognition and awards from the United Nations, as well as prime time press coverage from the national media. This was the beginning of a legacy that continues today; a 2011 alumna spent a portion of her senior year with a South Pole exploration team as part of the International Antarctic Expedition, and students have also volunteered in Zambia, Iceland, Japan, India, Haiti, Micronesia and local communities around the world. I am very inspired by the variety of ways that our students embody the essence of thoughtful leadership, including National Honor Society service projects and volunteer involvement in their local communities. We are helping to nurture a community of young leaders.
I believe that one of our school’s major strengths is its ability to deliver a challenging college preparatory education that is tailored to the learning styles and needs of individual students. Our focus on relationship-based education ensures that Laurel Springs School students benefit from personalized school-wide college counseling services which enable them to successfully navigate the college application process. Our students have an excellent track record of entering the colleges of their choice, including the most selective universities. One recent graduate said that her experience at Laurel Springs, “gave me the best opportunity to develop as a student and as a person. I received a letter from the University of Pennsylvania stating that I have been accepted to the Wharton Business School. My whole family is thrilled.” That type of testimonial affirms my belief that we are providing the highest level of academic preparation for our students.
We embrace our global community of learners, who live in 73 different countries outside the United States. The staff and teachers share vision of a personalized education is inherent to our school’s distance learning model and attracts students whose schedules demand non-traditional school hours. Our international students complete their coursework without concern for time zone issues. Our school’s flexible school schedule also appeals to students who are pursuing their goals as actors, dancers, recording artists, and athletes. All of our students benefit from a college-prep education, with a focus on pursuing their interests, goals, talents and drams. Students are part of a school with expertise at adapting to the needs of each student.
In a 1996 Today Show feature, Bryant Gumbel called Laurel Springs School “the wave of the future.” I am so proud of our illustrious history, and all we have achieved. Now, on our twentieth anniversary, I join our students, alumni, teachers and staff in celebrating our school’s amazing history and visionary approach to education.