Student churn is the term schools use to describe the percentage of students who transfer into or out of a school or district within a single school year. Generally speaking, it represents student mobility, and having to move is the main reason for this phenomenon.
Moving in the middle of a school year is difficult for families, students, and even teachers. However, students are the party most impacted by a move. If you’re an online student enrolled in a self-paced, flexible program like those offered by Northgate Academy, you don’t have so much to worry about, but if you’re switching from one traditional brick-and-mortar school to another, the change can be very difficult.
Adapting to a new set of teachers, a new student body, and a new environment with different expectations and social groups can negatively impact a student’s academic performance. In fact, according to University of California professor Russell Rumberger in the article “Student Mobility: How It Affects Learning,” from Education Week, “To be sure, multiple moves are a dangerous signal, but even one move increases [student’s] risk of not graduating or getting delayed in graduation.”
Students who enroll with Northgate avoid some of these pitfalls. You can study on your own time without losing any progress, you can transfer credits you’ve already earned, and you can even make up missing credits or graduate early! So if you decide to transfer from your current school to faith-based Northgate Academy midyear, keep the following information in mind to make the switch smoother and easier for everyone.
Know Who to Contact
When you’re transferring to any school, it’s important to know who to contact if you’re having a hard time getting into your classes, navigating the program, or setting goals for yourself. At NGA, you can contact the school directly by sending a text to 763-412-4701, by calling us at 800-339-7132, or by emailing your Academic Success Coach. You can send a support ticket when you log in to your account, or schedule a time to speak directly with your coach through email.
Understand the Graduation Requirements
If you’re transferring in as a senior, you will need to take at least one of each of the core classes (English, math, science, and social studies) and two elective courses, adding up to 6 full credits. Our graduation requirements are simple and pretty similar to those you’ve experienced at other schools. You can see the breakdown below:
- • English – 4 units/courses
- • Math – 3 units/courses
- • Science – any 3 units/courses
- • Social Studies – any 3.5 units/courses
- • Health – .5 units
- • PE – .5 units
- • Electives – 7 units/courses
Know How to Transfer Your Transcripts
At Northgate Academy, you can transfer up to 75% of your graduation requirements from an accredited public, private, or homeschool program. That could leave only the 6 required courses you have to take, itemized above. You transfer your credits by reaching out to your previous school and having them directly send your transcript to NGA. They can fax an official copy of those records to us at 763-412-4702 or mail them to Northgate Academy, 601 Carlson Parkway, Suite 1250, Minnetonka, MN 55305.
Gather Supplies for Online School
Because your new program is online, you will want to have a reliable laptop or desktop computer and a decent and reliable internet connection. In addition to those essentials, you’ll also want to have notebooks and pens/pencils so that you can take notes to use on quizzes or tests. Traditional supplies like sticky notes and highlighters are also helpful so that you can interact with your notes during review.
You’ll want to supply yourself with a distinct learning environment, too. Working through courses on your bed might be too comfortable, leading to a bit of drifting off and some extra nap time, so set yourself up with a specific space that you use for study time. This will help you switch gears from “being at home” and “being at school.”
Switching schools midyear can include a lot of unknowns to navigate. At Northgate, we want your switch to be a smooth transition, and we’ll work with you to help you succeed. If you’re ready to enroll, you can do that directly on our website, but if you still have questions, feel free to text us at 763-412-4701 or call us at 800-339-7132. Our academic advisors are happy to help you navigate this big change.
