Why In-Person Learning Matters at Core (Especially for Homeschool High Schoolers)
Homeschooling is flexible, but high school students need more than backyard PE and self-paced Shakespeare. That’s where in-person learning with grounded, knowledgeable instructors makes all the difference—offering structure, stimulation, and support.
1. 📈 Structure Through Accountability and Academic Stretching Deadlines, feedback, and real grades help teens stay on track and aim higher. Surrounded by peers and guided by supportive teachers, students learn to push themselves and take their work seriously.
Core students write research papers, revise their work, and tackle challenging material with confidence, thanks to structure and encouragement.
Students at Core
2. 💬 Stimulation Through Real Conversations and Growth In-person classes give teens space to debate, question, and think critically—skills hard to hone in isolation. Passionate teachers bring texts and ideas to life, encouraging curiosity through real-time discussion.
At Core, students dive into classic literature and historical sources, developing and defending their ideas through Harkness table discussions—a roundtable method that originated at Phillips Exeter Academy, where students learn by engaging directly with each other’s ideas. Mr. O'Brien, who also teaches Tang Soo Do, runs his literature classes with the same high-energy, high-engagement approach. Students are constantly involved, responding to one another, and sharpening their thinking—whether they’re analyzing a sonnet or sparring in a friendly debate. The result? A class that’s as lively as his karate dojo.
3. 👥 Support Through Community and Confidence Being part of a group matters. In-person programs offer friendships, rhythm, and connection—especially vital for neurodivergent and nontraditional learners.
Core builds community through weekly classes and shared experiences. Ms. Walsh, who leads our high school history program, brings a public historian’s perspective from her background working in museums. Her firsthand knowledge of how history is interpreted and presented to the public adds a layer of insight to every lesson. Whether she's guiding students through analyzing primary sources or discussing how museum exhibits shape our view of the past, her approach makes historical inquiry feel purposeful and relevant.
Conclusion: In-person learning with expert, caring instructors gives homeschool high schoolers the challenge and support they need to thrive. At Core, we combine rigor with relationship—because (with apologies for a cliche closing) learning is better together.
