As the new school year begins, the students of Cannon Falls High School (CFHS) are acclimating to their new class schedules and getting back into routine. However, considering the development of online learning alongside PSEO and traditional homeschooling, the label “student” has gained a versatile definition. The average day for a student can vary greatly depending on which learning path they have chosen, and though no two educational routes are identical, they all lead to the same result: a high school diploma.
In the school census, only full-time CFHS students are counted. According to the school guidance counselor, Kirsten Hoffman, “Our full-time students need to have six academic classes at CFHS – they are allowed one study hall each semester if they are on track to graduate.” To be considered a full-time student, a student must enroll in three or fewer online courses. When a student is enrolled in four or more courses through another school or online program they become a full-time student at that high school and will earn their high school diploma from said school. Online courses are an alternative route students can take to earn their required credits and receive their diplomas.
Currently, 60 students are enrolled in one to three online courses attending CFHS. While there are a plethora of sources students can enroll in online courses through, as stated by Kirsten Hoffman, “The CFHS students mostly use 5 RiversOnline for high school online courses because it is offered by Goodhue County Education District and our school is a member of their district.” These students complete their online coursework in IMC during the period they have been assigned to do so. Their schedules function similarly to that of a fully in-person student. However, taking online courses through other high schools is not the only option, and many colleges also offer online courses. These are called PSEO classes.
Post Secondary Enrollment allows students to take college level courses while still in high school. Students even have the opportunity to earn college credit, while still earning their high school diploma. While most PSEO classes are attended online, there are also opportunities to take in-person college classes. PSEO student, Kendra Reed, attends “one class in person, one class on Zoom, and two classes online.” Kendra attends Inver Hills University and by the time she graduates high school she will have completed the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum and earned a waiver of General Education and University Requirements. While attending PSEO classes at Inver Hills, Kendra also participates in many extracurricular activities throughout the school. PSEO and partially online students are all welcome to join teams and clubs within CFHS. Homeschooled students also can join teams and clubs within the school just like PSEO and partially online students.
Homeschooled students can be found at CFHS participating in extracurricular activities and band/choir. For example, homeschooled student Emily Churchill participates in “theater and speech through the school.” Though Emily is not technically a student at CFHS, she, along with other homeschooled extracurricular participants is still a valuable asset to the school. She will be supplied with a high school diploma and transcript when she graduates, just not through CFHS.
Cannon Falls High School consists of a range of students, all diversely crafting their educational paths. Students have the opportunity to learn in whatever fashion they find works best for their personal needs. All united in the common goal of receiving a high school diploma, in which the requirements are to “live in our school district and meet our graduation requirements” as explained by Kirsten Hoffman. As long as a student earns their required high school credits while taking three or fewer online classes, they can proudly call themselves a CFHS student.