By Patricia Hudson
In a world where virtual reality is the norm for most teen gamers, 17-year-old Matthew Whorton, has found a way to reap the benefits of this unique technology; he will be graduating as Valedictorian of his senior class at Texas Connections Academy, a Houston ISD charter school, and the Texas Virtual School Network.
How is it possible that a student living in Cypress is able to attend an HISD school?
“Because of the laws around virtual schools in Texas, HISD can allow any student in grades 3 thru 12 in the state of Texas to attend. TCAH is not a home school; it is a free public school that allows attendance from home. Course and graduation requirements are identical to other Texas public schools and curriculum adheres to TEA guidelines. Teachers are highly qualified; many have doctorates and Masters. Connections Academy students are required to take Texas state tests such as STAAR and High School End of Course, EOC exams, at designated physical testing sites. TCAH is Houston ISD’s largest school with an enrollment of 6,000 students,” explains Kay Whorton, Matthew’s mother.
How does virtual school differ from the regular classroom setting?
“Classes are structured like college courses; students meet with their teachers a few times a week for a “livelesson” in an online classroom. Students attend virtually and are able to interact with the teacher in real time. Lectures are recorded for ease in reviewing concepts, or for classes missed. Teachers offer one-on-one time with their students when not lecturing. Virtual learning allows teachers to spend more time teaching and less time managing a classroom.
While some top-level athletes choose to attend TCAH because of the rigors of training schedules, others opt for a visual education because a traditional classroom may be too distracting or the pace is too slow or too fast. It also fits the needs for students who have medical needs or disabilities that make attending a traditional school difficult.”
When did you first learn of the Texas Connections Academy and the Texas Virtual School Network?
“Matthew wasn’t being challenged in traditional school and was frustrated and bored. He tested out of 6th, 7th and 8th grade math between 5th and 6th grade and started taking Algebra 1 as a 6th grader, but the pace of the traditional classroom wasn’t a good fit for him. We tried working with Cy-Fair schools, but we weren’t making headway. He doesn’t like repetition; once he hears the material, he is ready to move onto the next concept. A few months into his 6th grade year, we discovered TCAH and moved him as soon as we could. His younger sister, Ashley, 14, followed a few months later. We found TCAH by the grace of God, when researching alternate ways to be educated. We liked that there was structure around what our children needed to be doing, and that they could rely on teachers for needed help. We are a house of procrastinators and we knew that we needed some accountability so that our children would get the education that they deserved.”
What benefits has your family derived from TCAH?
“Matthew has attended TCAH for seven years. Given a choice to return to the traditional classroom, he chose to remain with the program. Matthew developed a close relationship with his AP Calculus and AP Computer Science teachers. With the dual credit and AP course of study that he elected to pursue, Matthew derives considerable satisfaction that he will graduate with 59 college credits.
The flexibility of TCAH has allowed us to take school on the road, stopping along the way to do school work, as needed. We’ve been able to travel with our kids to 38 states and have spent quality time together as a family. While most trips last two to three weeks, several years ago, we left our home the day after Thanksgiving and didn’t return until Christmas. This would not have been possible if they were attending a traditional school.
What does the future hold for Matthew?
“Matthew’s GPA placed him at the top of his senior class of 593 students from across the state of Texas. Graduation will be held June 2nd, at the HISD Delmar Fieldhouse. As Valedictorian, Matthew will deliver the commencement address. Matthew will attend The University of Texas at Austin this fall, where he plans to major in Computer Science. The UT computer science program is ranked in the top 10 in the nation, with a 25% acceptance rate. Ranked in the top 50 of incoming computer science students, Matthew was chosen to be part of the prestigious Turing Scholars Program.
As a mom, I have had the privilege of staying home with my kids and spending all day as their learning coach. My role is not to teach, but simply to facilitate and make sure they have what they need. As he graduates, I’m very excited for Matthew… but I’m very sad to let him go,” admits the scholar’s mother.
