What Is an Athlete-Friendly Accredited High School?

As a parent of two teen athletes and an instructor of dozens of teen athletes at Brightmont Academy, the topic of athlete-friendly high school programs is dear to my heart.  I have seen students have to make really tough choices over the years between education and athletics in both private and public traditional schools. One issue that families face is absences. There is this pressure to perform within an athletic club, and athletes have dreams of going to college or the Olympics to compete, but they have to have an accredited school that works with their schedule. 

Students who miss lessons and tests can see a drop in grades, feel anxiety that they won’t be able to catch up, and if they get too far behind, they might not be prepared for college.  Some athletes make the choice to drop competitions and focus on preparing for college.  They walk away from their passion.  It doesn’t have to be this way; alternative education that revolves around flexible scheduling, personalized instruction, and recognized coursework helps student-athletes stay on track academically!



Flexible Scheduling for Student-Athletes

Every student-athlete has different scheduling needs. A flexible high school program should accommodate those differences rather than requiring students to choose between academics and athletics. Flexible scheduling is different for each family, so let’s look at a few examples of how Brightmont students can build their own schedule: 

• A student needs a schedule that allows them to miss Friday each week so that they can compete in tournaments in another state: Done! 
• A student needs to attend mornings Monday through Friday because they have private lessons each afternoon to build skills in competitions: You’ve got it! 
• A student needs to accelerate their grade-level school year in less time than a traditional school so that they can train with the US National Team at an Olympic training center: No problem! 

These are just a few examples of the scheduling needs Brightmont can accommodate. The goal is to give student-athletes the flexibility they need while maintaining meaningful academic progress.

Personalized Instruction for Competitive Athletes

Flexible scheduling is only part of the equation. Student-athletes also benefit from an academic environment that can adjust to their individual strengths, challenges, and pace. 

Personalized instruction meets the students where they are to build the skills they need for college and career through mastery-based instruction. Students can accelerate through skill-building courses while continuing to develop across multiple academic domains. They move forward when they demonstrate mastery, rather than being held to the pace of a traditional classroom.

We find that students often lean more towards either math or English language arts.  Supporting student athletes with grade-level gaps is part of our mission with one-to-one instruction at Brightmont Academy.  We want to help as many students as possible with customized instruction.  Our expert instructors know how to target skills and connect with students, which is needed to move up to the next grade level, and instructors are supported by expert curriculum writers and program developers!  Many of our instructors and directors are athletes, coaches, and referees, so we understand student-athletes. 

Why Accreditation Matters for Student-Athletes

For student-athletes, choosing a flexible high school program involves more than finding a schedule that works. Families also want to know that the coursework their student completes is recognized and will support their path toward graduation and college.

Brightmont Academy’s mastery-based coursework is accredited by Cognia, WASC, and accepted by the NCAA! Cognia is learner-centered, meaning students get credit for their work while they continue to pursue their athletic passion. Student-athletes focus on building skills around their schedules and don’t have to worry about absences. With some of the pressure lifted by flexible scheduling, families can focus on their priorities. 

For me, one of the most rewarding parts of working with student-athletes is seeing that balance lead to new opportunities. Recently, I was part of the team that supported two student-athletes who went on to attend Michigan State University. Their success is a reminder of why creating an academic path that works alongside a student’s goals can matter.

To see where Brightmont graduates have gone on to college, explore our College Acceptances Map.



Preparing Student-Athletes for What’s Next

Balancing academics and athletics can be challenging, but the right school environment makes it possible to pursue both. With flexible scheduling, personalized instruction, and accreditation, student-athletes can reach their full potential! 

As a teacher, I’ve seen firsthand how one-to-one instruction and a flexible schedule can help student-athletes stay on track while continuing to pursue their sport. Some students I meet aren’t sure they can balance academics with competitive athletics or see college as an option because they struggled in a traditional school environment.

Watching that change to “I can go to college and be an athlete” is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.



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