Laurel Springs School
Accredited Online Private K-12 School
Find Purpose Between Chapters: The Laurel Springs Gap Year Program
Whether you’re taking a semester or year-long hiatus, The Gap Year Program at Laurel Springs School prepares you for your next step. We help recent high school graduates transition to college or university and provide them with the necessary tools and skills to pave their career paths confidently.
Strengthen Your Academic Portfolio
Our Gap Year Program is uniquely tailored to each student’s goals, offering a meaningful academic experience for ambitious learners. Students have access to our entire High School catalog so they can expand their academic portfolio, familiarize themselves with college-level coursework, and explore potential majors or career paths. Benefits include:
- College-level courses through partnerships with Baylor University and Syracuse University
- 60 Honors and AP courses
- 86 World language courses
- Elective courses
As a fully-customizable program, gap year students can take a single course or several courses, while also participating in a virtual internship or combination of opportunities offered. One could say the Laurel Springs Gap Year Program allows high school graduates to choose their own adventure and pave their own path forward.
College Counseling
Gap Year Program students who opt in to the College Counseling program receive the guidance they need from an assigned College Counselor and a college and life planning seminar. Your College Counselor meets with you throughout the program to help you navigate the college admissions process and balance your Laurel Springs studies with your other pursuits.
- The Seminar course includes a wide variety of resources and a wealth of knowledge applicable to students’ current college and career goals or plans. It covers self-advocacy, growth mindset, and professional etiquette, contributing to a successful transition to higher education.
- Gap Year students also receive access to Naviance, a comprehensive, college and career readiness platform that promotes self-discovery, career exploration, and college preparation, and is used as a part of the college admissions process.
Cultivate Athletic Pursuits
Laurel Springs Gap Year students can take advantage of an NCAA-approved curriculum and expert counseling for college-bound athletes – including NCAA eligibility, recruitment, and college admission preparation. While taking challenging coursework to strengthen a GPA or transcript, student athletes can continue to improve their physical strength and skills, participate in athletic recruitment, and develop a well-rounded skill set that colleges actively seek.
Ready to make the most of your gap year?
Taking time to intentionally prepare for your college or career move is a smart and courageous choice. Enroll in Laurel Springs’ Gap Year Program today to gain access to the tools and resources you need to succeed!
Gap Year Program FAQs
Students who are highly motivated, curious, responsible, and engaged learners are an ideal fit for the Gap Year Program at Laurel Springs. This program is intended for recent high school graduates. To enroll, you must submit your final high school transcript confirming graduation and be 20 years of age or younger.
A gap year is a semester or year-long break taken by a student in between secondary school and higher education. It usually involves developmental and educational opportunities outside of typical academics.
Students choose to take a gap year for various reasons. Some travel while others get a job, pursue internships, volunteer, take more courses, explore majors, develop athletic talents, or pursue other developmental opportunities. It doesn’t matter a student’s reason for taking a Gap Year; all that matters is that they make the most of it!
Laurel Springs School offers a distinctive gap year program tailored for recent high school graduates. Designed to bridge the gap between high school and higher education, our program intertwines academic courses and hands-on experiential learning. Within the Laurel Springs’ framework, students can dive into prospective majors, engage in advanced college-level courses, partake in internships, and strengthen essential skills to enhance their college applications.
No, a gap year program is not equivalent to an adult education program. Adult education programs are designed to help adult learners hone their literacy and English skills and/or gain technical career skills. Laurel Springs’ Gap Year Program is designed for recent high school graduates to take advanced courses, explore and develop areas of interest, and prepare for their next academic step.
Laurel Springs postgraduate students have access to all classes available in the Laurel Springs’ High School catalog.
No, postgraduate students can take as many or as few courses as they’d like in our program.
You may request a postgraduate transcript; however, it will not contribute to your final high school GPA. Laurel Springs’ postgraduate (PG) credit does not transfer to colleges and universities unless it is associated with an AP course. In that case, it is at the discretion of the specific colleges and universities to accept the AP credit. Earned college course credit may be transferred to colleges and universities.
No, our Gap Year Program is completely online. We only have virtual classrooms here!
Laurel Springs offers affordable tuition options for all families, including annual, semester, and part-time plans. Visit our Tuition page to discover the right plan for your student’s needs.
Enrollment in the Gap Year Program is an excellent way to demonstrate your ability to succeed in higher-level courses from a US-based curriculum, providing you with an impressive transcript that sets you apart from your peers. International students are required to demonstrate English language proficiency before enrollment.
Students who have been deferred by a college or university should be aware of existing policies surrounding the institution’s deferment terms.
Students taking AP courses should note that the College Board requires AP exams to be taken while a student is under the age of 21. Additionally, the student should not be enrolled in college at any time following high school graduation. Furthermore, if a student is seeking AP college credit, they should be aware of the AP exam credit policies held by their targeted colleges or universities.
Students taking college-level courses should be aware of transfer admissions policies and transfer credit policies that exist for their targeted colleges and universities.