Online High School
Why Renton Christian Online High School?
According to the "International Association for K-12 Online Learning," the growth of online learning in K-12 schools is exploding. Today, there are millions of K-12 students taking online courses, with many of them attending virtual schools full-time. Over the next decade, exponential growth of online learning is expected both in private and public schools. Why? Technology is not an obstacle to learning for today's students, known as "digital natives," as it might be for their parents or grandparents, but an often-used tool with which they are quite comfortable. Plus, the costs of such education are far more reasonable than when operating large buildings and campuses.
At Renton Christian School, we offer a virtual high school experience with many benefits that cater to the 21st century teenage student, especially those who seek a successful college career in their future. RCS offers:
- Curriculum that integrates biblical principles throughout and is presented by qualified Christian teachers.
- The freedom and flexibility to study at times and at the pace that best suits them.
- Weekly accountability with each teacher and RCS administrators that monitor progress.
- Rigorous courses whose content provide excellent preparation for continued studies in college.
There are many other reasons why students might prefer the virtual high school experience. There are many types of students who will flourish in this environment as well.
Are you one of those students? Explore more information below about attending Renton Christian Online High School.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Enrollment
To qualify for full-time status, a student must take a minimum of 5 courses per semester.
Tuition & Payment Plans
Visit our Tuition & Payment Plans page to learn about all available payment options for your student.
About
FAQ's
- What is the best way to investigate further into the Renton Christian Virtual High School curriculum and programs?
- Will RCS Online High School meet graduation requirements?
- How will we know if our student is on track for graduation?
- How often will students need to be on campus?
- Are the courses presented from a biblical worldview?
- What standards do the courses meet?
- What about participating in sports?
- What about the social development of my teenager?
- What about college admissions?
- What if my student wants to take classes on a part-time basis?
- What about Advanced Placement (AP) classes or Running Start?
- What if my student started at another school and wants to transfer and graduate from RCS Online High School?
What is the best way to investigate further into the Renton Christian Virtual High School curriculum and programs?
Will RCS Online High School meet graduation requirements?
How will we know if our student is on track for graduation?
When the student signs up with RCS Online High School they will complete a four-year plan for graduation which will be reviewed quarterly. In addition, each class requires a pace chart to be completed for the first assignment. The RCS principal then has access to each student's progress including grades and whether or not they are on pace.
How often will students need to be on campus?
There will be a chapel attendance requirement for students. It is yet to be determined how many weekly chapels students will need to attend. In addition, students will need to be on campus for a week of standardized testing in April. They will need at minimum a quarterly meeting for assessing progress.
Are the courses presented from a biblical worldview?
What standards do the courses meet?
What about participating in sports?
What about the social development of my teenager?
RCS Online High School does not impact the home, church, and athletic environments in which students already participate. For the school environment, there will be a dedicated virtual lab for the online high school students. Students will be permitted to schedule hours during which they would like to work in the lab. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in chapels here on campus. In addition to field trips, service opportunities, and chapels, there will be opportunities for online message boards or chat rooms to help students engage socially.
What about college admissions?
What if my student wants to take classes on a part-time basis?
What about Advanced Placement (AP) classes or Running Start?
What if my student started at another school and wants to transfer and graduate from RCS Online High School?
Program Overview
Guest Login
Login as Our Guest
If you would like to tour the online high school system, you must contact our office for the Username and Password.
Call: 425-226-0820
Email: nbarnes@rentonchristian.org
Once you have the login information, you may proceed by clicking the button below:
Courses of Study
System Requirements
All students need a computer that meets or exceeds the listed specifications to successfully work within the online environment. Renton Christian does not provide these hardware and software items.
General Requirements
Modern Browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, IE11 or Edge)
Broadband Internet connection with speeds of at least 1.5Mbps
Mac Computers must be running OSX 10.5 or later
Recommended Software
Windows Media Play 10 Series or higher
Adobe© Shockwave© Player
Adobe© Flash© Player
Adobe© Acrobat© Reader™
Recommended Hardware*
Speakers or headphones
Microphone
Printer
* Hardware support is not provided.
Our Students
A Day in the Life
There is no typical day for a Renton Christian Virtual High School student. All students share a common desire to learn from a Biblical worldview and a desire to learn independent study skills while working on rigorous, college preparatory courses.
Students will average approximately one hour per day per course, and additional time is needed for AP courses, plus other school activities. A full-time student taking five classes might expect to spend approximately 25-30 hours per week online, in off-line texts, participating in online chats, and completing school assignments. This can be considerably less time than a traditional school student spends who has to prepare in the morning, travel to and from school, and complete homework in the evening in addition to the school day.
What the school day looks like is determined by each student. Some online students will rise early and work continuously throughout the morning, and others start their day later and enjoy morning activities. Whichever the case, all of our VHS students typically settle into a daily routine after a few short weeks, once they determine what works best for them and for their families. Students can be involved in community and church activities, so they schedule their schoolwork at times that do not conflict with service projects and other opportunities. Students that travel set daily completion goals that keep them on schedule with their schoolwork, but also allow them the flexibility to sightsee and do "real world" learning throughout the day during daylight hours. Families can choose block schedules, modified schedules, flexible rotating schedules, etc. The point is – there is no set way to approach your day when you are an online student. It really comes down to what works best for you and for your family.
Our online students are students who are:
- Self-directed
- Self-motivated
- Have excellent language skills with the ability to communicate through the written word
- Enjoy connecting with others through technology and have a variety of pursuits such as travel, sports, and the arts
- Desire flexibility beyond the traditional classroom for a variety of reasons
- Have strong parental support and accountability
Biblical Worldview
Every individual has a worldview, and every school educates students from a particular worldview. A worldview is a set of presuppositions and beliefs by which an individual sees the world. This affects how one thinks and acts. It impacts what a person believes about humanity, religion, government, economics, the environment, science, and history. There is no such thing as an "objective" or "values-neutral" education. Public schools operate from an atheist worldview in which prayer and the Bible are prohibited, assert the "belief" that the universe did not originate from a Creator, and that morality and truth are a matter of personal choice, rather than a fixed set of principles.
Renton Christian School teaches from a biblical worldview, which means that our primary goal is to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ by creating disciples who follow him (Matthew 28:18-20). A few presuppositions of our biblical worldview include
- All truth is God's truth.
- The Bible is God's Word and the cornerstone upon which all our education will be built.
- The full development of each student is best accomplished in partnership between home, church and school.
- Every human being was created by God, have fallen into sin, are in need of redemption through Jesus Christ, and have a hope for an eternal future with God.
Many of the greatest heroes of the Jewish and Christian faiths utilized their world-class education for the growth of God's kingdom: people such as Joseph, Moses, Daniel, Esther, and Paul the Apostle. God used their vast knowledge and position in society in order to open doors of influence that changed the world. The next generation of world leaders and influencers will be such as these. Our hope at Renton Christian is that many of them will be our own graduates!
Chapels
Weekly chapels are held for the secondary students at Renton Christian School in the North Auditorium each Thursday morning. Since spiritual development is a key component of student life at RCS, attendance at a certain number of chapels is expected each quarter. This provides students a venue to engage in worship and to participate in the spiritual growth of themselves and other students as well.
College Prep
Graduation Requirements
What courses will you need to take in high school to succeed in college or in a career? Here's what's required to graduate in Washington State, as well as what school counselors suggest you take (in addition to the minimum) to prepare yourself for the future. Note that your school may have different requirements.
LANGUAGE ARTS
OSPI Class of 2016 Requirement: 4 credits
Counselors suggest: 4 credits
Being able to read well, write fluently, and communicate clearly is absolutely essential for college or for any job. Language arts (English) classes will help you do that and develop an appreciation for literature.
MATHEMATICS
OSPI Class of 2016 Requirement: 3 credits
Counselors suggest: 3-4 credits
A good understanding of math is needed in our high-tech, 21st century world. You should aim to take math every year. Math courses include Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-calculus, and Calculus.
HISTORY and GEOGRAPHY
OSPI Class of 2016 Requirement: 3 credits
Counselors suggest: 2-3 credits
Social studies courses help you learn more about the world around us. These courses include Geography, Government, Civics, World History, World Cultures, US History, and Political Science.
SCIENCE
OSPI Class of 2016 Requirement: 3 credits (2 of lab science)
Counselors suggest: 3-4 credits
Science is important for any career path, as the study of science teaches you to observe carefully and use logical reasoning to answer questions. Courses include Chemistry, Geology, Biology, and Physics.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
OSPI Class of 2016 Requirement: 2 credits
Counselors suggest: 2-4 credits
Most colleges require at least two years of study of a foreign language (such as Japanese, French, Spanish, Chinese, or Latin). Understanding the cultures and language of other countries is essential today.
VISUAL and PERFORMING ARTS
OSPI Class of 2016 Requirement: 2 credits (may waive 1 credit if total credits achieved is 24)
Counselors suggest: 1-2 credits
Studying the arts helps you learn to express yourself creatively and find new ways to interpret your surroundings. Arts courses include Art, Music, Photography, Drama, and Dance.
ELECTIVES
OSPI Class of 2016 Requirement: 2 credits in Health, 1 credit in Occupational Education, and 2 credits in Career Concentration.
The elective courses you take will be determined in part by the career pathway you select when you are in 9th grade.
Your high school advisor will help you develop a Four-year Plan that tracks the courses you plan to take each year. In each of these areas, register for the most advanced class level you can manage.
4 Year Graduation Plan
College Visits
Renton Christian will maintain up-to-date information regarding college and university visitation days.
Fortunately, the online high school format creates tremendous calendar flexibility for students so that they can investigate virtually any school they want at their own leisure.
In addition, college application guidance will be available and a database of information regarding various college registration materials will be maintained.