It’s a cinematic scene we all know well: one afternoon a visibly uncomfortable student stands at the head of the class in a new school. Not knowing anyone. Scared to stumble, or face the wrath of judgment from their peers.

And while the awkward-new-kid scene is good for the plot, do we really need it in reality?

Does school really have to start in September and end in June? It doesn’t have to for everyone, and it doesn’t have to for you!

Why Does Traditional School Start in the Fall?

Imagine you’re a student in the early 1900s. Odds are you lived on a family farm, and your father needed help from you and your siblings during the planting and harvesting months—late spring, summer, and early fall, for our non-farming families.

The academic year setup for traditional brick-and-mortar schools—starting in August/September and dismissing in May/June—dates back to when the farming calendar took precedence over anything else, even school.

Over time, as we moved away from the need for all hands to be on deck for survival, the idea of school centered around a summer break was introduced. It made sense for children to be free of curricular obligations during the season where being indoors made the least sense. This has given way to summer sports, family vacations, and other warm-weather adventures.

And while it’s still the most logical academic calendar for many, it may not suit your family to be stuck in a brick-and-mortar classroom while winter rages outside.

In fact, if you are, for example, an Olympic-bound skier, you may not have much interest in freedom during the warm months at all. On the contrary, you may be looking for quite the opposite.

Flexible Enrollment is Adaptable to You

Whether you’re a prospective flexible enrollment student or the guardian of one, you know your family’s unique educational needs best. Whatever your availability revolves around, rolling admissions options, like we offer, allow your academic calendar to adapt to you—not you to it.

So what is rolling admissions and how does it work?

At any time of the school year, after a Laurel Springs School admissions coordinator talks with your family to gauge your student’s needs and goals, they will walk you through our course offerings and identify the class lineup necessary to fulfill your student’s education plan. Your student may then be required to complete some additional assessments to help the coordinator hone in on the perfect course and grade-level placement.

A Unique and Flexible Schedule

After all of the administrative boxes are checked and the coordinator delivers a customized academic plan, your student is free to start learning! They don’t have to wait for the fall, the first of the month or even the start of a new week—classes can start immediately after your student is admitted.

Once your student has begun their coursework, they’re in charge of their learning: with our asynchronous learning approach, they can tune into their classes whenever and wherever they’re able. Free from scheduling restraints, our students can pursue their passions outside of school.

The Benefits of Rolling Admissions

Reduced admissions stress. Freedom from binding academic calendars. No application or admissions deadlines. Choosing flexible enrollment will bring you tons of benefits, but the most important pro to this approach is your student can start at Laurel Springs when they’re ready. No need to stress about juggling their pursuits with a rigid academic day and what to do if their school and extracurricular schedules collide.

Where should you get started? A Laurel Springs admissions coordinator is happy to answer important questions, provide guidance about each step of the enrollment process, and offer the best possible curricular options to ensure each student’s success.

We’re excited to talk with you about your student’s scheduling needs and how we can support them with flexible enrollment. Contact us now to get started!

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