Meet Sabrina

Sabrina needed a safe educational setting where she could work at her own pace to catch up and get back to enjoy the learning process while adapting to a new language and culture. With K12-powered online school, she receives support every step of the way.

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Why This Family Chose K12

Mom and Learning Coach Mabiel sought a safe learning environment where her daughter could heal from the stress caused by fleeing their home country. K12-powered school provides the flexibility and support Sabrina needs to successfully acclimate to life in the United States.

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Embrace an empowering environment

Online education gives Sabrina the time and space she needs to adjust to a different way of life in a new country.

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Progress at your own pace

Sabrina had the flexibility to spend extra time working through assignments while learning a new language, without pressure.

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Close learning gaps

With so much upheaval, Sabrina wasn’t able to keep up with her studies. K12 helped her catch up and confidently get back on track.

Feel Heard as a Family

Upon starting at her K12-powered school, Sabrina received the support she needed to catch up on her academic work. Her confidence grew quickly with the help of dedicated teachers who met her where she was and additional educational resources. At last, after struggling with traditional public schools, her family finally felt heard

Tackle Academic Challenges

Before K12-powered online school, Sabrina struggled with various academic and emotional challenges. Political unrest and religious persecution made Cuba unsafe for her family. Seeking a better life, her dad moved to the U.S. first — and it took four years for their family to reunite. During that time, Sabrina stopped attending school. When she finally enrolled in a traditional school in the U.S., she was academically behind — and left with little to no support. After exploring alternative options, Sabrina’s mom discovered K12. Now, Sabrina finally feels like she’s seen, heard, and supported in her learning journey.

A Day in the Life of Sabrina

Sabrina enjoys a personalized schedule with flexible pacing, learning at her own rhythm and speed.

Find Learning Flexibility

Sabrina’s schoolwork is a mix of scheduled, live classes, self-guided offline assignments, and hands-on learning activities.

A Day in the Life of Mabiel

As Sabrina’s Learning Coach, Mabiel provides structure and organization at home to support her daughter’s learning.

Guide Long-Term Success

Mabiel may spend between one to three hours each day guiding  Sabrina through online school. She enjoys watching her daughter gain independence and confidence, and is nearby if Sabrina ever needs help.

Family and Faith

Online school lets Sabrina spend more time with her family and faith. Mabiel enjoys having more control over how Sabrina learns, and ties in valuable cultural lessons whenever possible.

A Supportive Network to Guide Success

It takes a strong school community to guide student success. With teachers that pay attention to her unique needs, Sabrina has found joy in learning again.

Dedicated Educators Who Engage and Inspire

Sabrina’s state-certified teachers do an excellent job of engaging students through thoughtful lessons. Whenever Sabrina has a question, she can reach out during live classes and office hours, or via email. Mabiel and Sabrina appreciate having open communication with her teachers on a regular basis. Personalized attention empowers Sabrina to thrive academically.

An Accommodating School Administration

Sabrina’s former school didn’t accommodate her learning needs or provide support for her situation. They placed her in class where she lacked a strong foundation — negatively impacting her learning. With K12’s resources and assistance, Sabrina rediscovered a passion for school.

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Receive Real-Time Academic Support

Sabrina may start her day completing a math worksheet, reading a book for English class, then learning about atoms during a live virtual science class. She receives quality instruction from her state-certified teachers and additional guidance from her mom and Learning Coach, Mabiel. If she needs help, she can always ask questions during live classes, via email, or at weekly office hours.

schedule

Receive Real-Time Academic Support

Sabrina may start her day completing a math worksheet, reading a book for English class, then learning about atoms during a live virtual science class. She receives quality instruction from her state-certified teachers and additional guidance from her mom and Learning Coach, Mabiel. If she needs help, she can always ask questions during live classes, via email, or at weekly office hours.

CURRICULUM

How Sabrina Learns

Eighth graders like Sabrina generally take between five to six subjects each semester, with maybe two to four requiring scheduled, live classes.

Family Q&A

K12-powered school provides an opportunity to adapt to big life changes for students who need to catch up on their own timeline in a supportive environment.

Question 1 of 8

Why do you like online school?

Online school is easier for me. The time limits are more flexible. Some things still get caught up in translation, so it’s nice that I don’t have to rush. The classes are recorded, so I can even go back and rewatch if I need to. I also like it because I don’t feel the peer pressure I felt before.

Question 2 of 8

How was the transition to online school?

We initially thought K12 was temporary but liked it so much we stayed. Sabrina started taking online courses during the pandemic. She seemed more motivated and wanted to communicate more in English. When we realized she was making progress, I asked how she could do online full time. The transition was great;…

Question 3 of 8

How do the teachers support you?

The teachers are friendly and patient. My teachers really take the time to listen to me and the other students. At my old school, it felt like the teachers heard me but didn’t really listen. My teachers do their best to make learning fun, too. My favorite teacher is my math teacher. She comes up with games a…

I see a big difference between the teachers at K12 versus our old school. Before, we dealt with teachers who were inflexible, demanding, and sometimes even argumentative when we explained the situation we dealt with while coming from Cuba, and how that impacted Sabrina.

Question 4 of 8

What do your breaks look like during the school day?

I like to play with Tika, my cat. She walks through my workspace when I’m in class. Sometimes, when my grandmother is in the kitchen, I’ll help her cook or bake the cookies she likes. When it’s nice outside, I love to go for walks.

Question 5 of 8

Why did you switch to online school?

We moved from Cuba so Sabrina could have a better future. She wasn’t supported at her first school in the U.S., and I felt like I couldn’t protect her during her transition to a new country. The teachers didn’t want to listen or offer any solutions. Sabrina was also having some health issues from the stress….

Question 6 of 8

Do you have any advice for families considering online school for their children?

I want other families in the U.S., especially ones like ours who’ve come from other countries, to know that your children can have a great education—and there’s an option out there that will work for them. You have options. Things are different in the United States. Parents can advocate for their children’s …

Question 7 of 8

How do you build friendships during online school?

My friends and I hang out outside of school. One of our favorite things to do is have pajama parties and watch movies together.

Question 8 of 8

Why did you choose K12-powered online school for Sabrina?

K12 offered Sabrina the ability to catch up academically. They could give her customized support like math and English tutoring. Plus, all the resources—class materials, books, laptop — were included at no cost to our family. I couldn’t believe it was all tuition-free.

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Learning With K12

From kindergarten to high school, K12 provides tuition-free online education that empowers students to learn in ways that work for them. Browse options in your state to find the perfect fit for your family.

These are the stories of real students attending K12-powered schools and their families. Content is a combination of direct quotes and summaries from interviews. Their stories each reflect their experiences at their respective schools. Actual experiences can vary by student and school. These pages are designed to reflect a typical day in the life of a student attending an online K12-powered school. Individual class schedules and requirements will vary by state, school, and the individual needs of each student. Course materials vary, and certain schools may not provide computers or may have specific requirements for providing equipment.