Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Bridgewater

General Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Bridgewater accredited?

A: Yes. Bridgewater is accredited through AdvancED, the world's largest educational community, with over 27,000 public and private schools.

Q: What grade levels and courses does Bridgewater offer?

A: Bridgewater offers online math, language arts, history & social studies, and science courses for grades 3-12. Online electives include Spanish and French language courses. See all of Bridgewater's course options!

Q: Does the tuition include the cost of curriculum?

A: Yes. The tuition cost covers course material. To see tuition costs, please visit the Tuition and Fees page.

Q: When can I enroll?

A: Bridgewater has rolling enrollment which means that students may enroll any time throughout the year. To enroll, call 888-399-4267 or visit our Registration Page!

Q: How much time does my student have to complete the school year?

A: The school year is typically 180 days, which is about nine months. Students have up to one calendar year (12 months) to complete one school year's coursework. A semester is 90 days or approximately four and one-half months. Students enrolled in a one-semester course have up to six months to complete the course.

Q: How much time must my student spend on schoolwork each day?

A: Bridgewater suggests that parents and students allow 45-60 minutes per subject per day for 180 school days to complete a program of study. It is important to meet these requirements at the high school level in order to receive credit. Students may accelerate course completion by increasing study hours or working during weekends.

Q: What should I do if my student has an academic question I can't answer?

A: Bridgewater teachers will answer your student's academic questions using the message system and the help notes. For more extensive explanations, you or your student may call one of our teachers Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (CT). Students receive 60 minutes of free telephone support for every course in which they are enrolled. For example, a student enrolled in six courses starts with a total of 360 minutes in which he or she can talk to a teacher in any department. Because of our well-written curriculum, our Bridgewater teachers, and our call center teachers, plenty of help is available to your student.

Q: Do you know my state's distance learning requirements?

A: Certain states view enrollment in any form of distance education as homeschooling. Other states recognize accredited distance education institutions. Parents are responsible for knowing or being familiar with the education laws in their home state to know how enrollment in Bridgewater is viewed by their state.

Q: Do you offer a high school diploma and an official transcript for high school?

A: Yes. Upon successful completion of our college preparatory course track, a diploma is issued to full-time students. Transcripts are issued upon graduation or transfer. They are sent to colleges or other schools upon written request.

Q: Does Bridgewater offer student phone support?

A: Yes. We encourage direct student/teacher communication and offer phone support for all courses. Please visit the student support page!

Q: What is the role of the parent, and who grades student work?

A: Parental involvement is crucial to your student's success. Therefore, parents are strongly encouraged to take an active role in their student's education. This is accomplished through working with your student in each lesson and daily reviewing your student's progress.

Student work is graded by a qualified teacher. On a day-to-day basis, parents and teachers review student work, and periodically teachers will have telephone meetings with the parent and student to review progress. Teachers assign semester and end-of-year grades.

 

Frequently Asked Technical Questions

Q: How does Bridgewater's curriculum work?

A: Bridgewater's curriculum for grades 3-12 is available 24/7 through any high-speed Internet connection and any personal computer (PC) or Macintosh®. Curriculum is accessed through a given Internet link and a login password.

Our curriculum has a diverse, vibrant mix of entertaining lessons, assignments, and quizzes available any time and any place. Interactive learning games, web links, and off-computer projects create opportunities for in-depth study. Bridgewater offers four core subjects and a variety of exciting electives that can be used as supplements or specialized courses for your student. Online lessons can be customized to meet individual learning needs.

Q: Do I need a specific computer and operating system for Bridgewater's online curriculum?

A: No. Our curriculum can be used with any computer, as well as any Microsoft®, Macintosh®, or Linux-based operating system. It only requires a high-speed Internet connection.

Q: Can my student use other curriculum?

A: All students must use Bridgewater curriculum. For an additional fee, high school students may include outside courses. Outside courses must be pre-approved by a counselor and cannot be offered in Bridgewater's course options.

Q: Does my student have to be connected to the Internet while doing schoolwork?

A: Yes.

Q: If my student is enrolled at Bridgewater, do I still control his schedule?

A: One of the benefits of Bridgewater is schedule flexibility. The parent has the freedom to change the student's schedule, provided it stays within the deadline for the course. Parents do not need to notify the academy of a school day that has been missed. If the student will not be working for a week or more, we do recommend informing the academy.

Q: Can I use a dial-up or satellite Internet connection if I live in a remote area?

A: We do not recommend using dial-up or satellite Internet connections because of frequent reports about the difficulty of transmitting schoolwork. However, if there is no other option, families may try if they can receive a stable Internet connection and are willing to assume the risk that it may prove unsatisfactory.

Don't see the answer to your question? Click here to submit your question or call 888-399-4267!