High School

For too long effective college and career counseling has only been available to families who could afford to send their children to expensive private/independent schools or to hire independent educational consultants.

At Optima Academy Online (OAO), we believe every ambitious young person should have access to quality college and career counseling, guidance, and support. To that end, we are launching a first-of-its-kind College Counseling Program for OAO students Fall 2024.

Students enrolled in this program will learn the value of higher education and how to conduct research on colleges and the myriad opportunities they offer. They will learn the key metrics they should use to evaluate schools and programs they are considering, how to best position themselves for success when they are ready to apply, and the ins and outs of the ever-changing college application process. Students will even get a handle on the cost of college and how families can approach the college funding process most effectively.

At the conclusion of the course students will be conversant on the higher education landscape for themselves and be equipped to take the critical next steps toward their futures.

Optima Academy Online is now offering the opportunity for Florida students to hack the cost of college. Eligible students in grades 10-12 can dual enroll at Florida SouthWestern State College for free, earning up to 96 college credits while completing their high school degree.

Florida SouthWestern State College has more than 3,500 dual enrollment students each year. Students can choose to take FSW courses online or in-person at an FSW campus. Florida SouthernWestern State College offers 25 associate degrees, 6 bachelor’s degrees and 29 career-oriented certificate programs. FSW has a focus on healthcare, business and technology, and it’s accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

In the 2020-2021 academic year alone, around $11,229,548 was saved through the completion of 55,063 dual enrollment courses at Florida SouthWestern State College. FSW’s dual enrollment students went on to attend 160 different college and universities around the US and world. Credits from FSW will transfer to any four-year university in the state of Florida and most outside of the state.

Regardless of location, eligible students in grades 10-12 can enroll part-time at Southeastern University (SEU) for free, with no tests or transcripts required.

Students can take SEU courses in-person at their main campus, in-person at partnering sites, or online. In-person courses are 16-weeks while online courses are 8-weeks and allow students to complete assignments on their own schedules. Credits transfer to most 4-year universities across the US.

Students also have the opportunity to take a two ENGAGE Content Creator courses through Mississippi State University (MSU) for a total of 6 credit hours. These courses teaches students how to build their own Virtual Reality experiences without coding.

Click here to learn more about OAO’s dual credit offerings.