Independent Study (IS)

• Students have maximum flexibility. There is no in-seat requirement and there is no bell schedule.
• Students receive personalized, one-on-one attention, and individualized plans that fit student progress.
• Teachers hold appropriate California credentials. 
• The academic program can be accelerated or slowed to best support your child. 
• Students meet with the IG advisor for at least one hour every week for individual support. This meeting can be held virtually, in person by appointment, or by telephone.
• Students also, participate in weekly synchronous sessions via a daily virtual advisory with an IG Advisor and online teacher. 
• Learning materials are provided through the Buzz On-Line Learning Platform.
• Seminars are offered in all core disciplines (math, English, science, social science) and provide project-based, interdisciplinary enrichment credit opportunities integrating the traditional learning approach with the online form.
• All coursework is self-paced but must be completed by the end of each semester.
• Students can engage in all extracurricular and athletic act ivies offered at the high school. 

Independent Study (IS) is one of many academic programs that GHC offers and students are strongly encouraged to participate in the many clubs, sports and extracurricular activities that GHC has to offer.  Students who complete their GHC high school requirements will participate in the culminating graduation ceremony and earn a GHC diploma.

All students who are enrolled at Independent Study (IS) are programmed into a period by period schedule. For select courses that may not be available in the IS academic program but are offered at the Zelzah campus, students may meet with their counselor and request to take up to two courses at the Zelzah campus if space is available. 

Student data is pulled weekly in order to assess the areas of need in each content area and academic seminars are created around the students' needs. All students work at a different pace. This is the beauty of Independent Study. We can tailor to the pace and needs of each student.

Independent Study (IS) offers UC/CSU approved online courses that range from CP, honors, and Advanced Placement. Each one of these courses has an online instructor who students can contact for assistance. In addition, each student is assigned to a content specific Academic Advisor who is located at the Devonshire site and who can provide students with academic support, guidance, and intervention. More importantly, IS allows students to have constant access to their courses while working at a predetermined pace and while offering the structure and stability of the traditional high school experience.

The instructional focus centers around college-level writing and weekly workshops allowing students to explore and find their own voice, understand the importance of audience, and learn how to research, use rhetoric and continually revise. All Independent Study (IS) coursework meets the UC/CSU eligibility requirements and is approved by the NCAA.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has awarded the Independent Study (IS) Program with its highly coveted certification for all GHC online and web-based courses. With the NCAA certification, all online and web-based courses offered by GHC will satisfy the NCAA requirement for high school athletes wishing to participate in Division I college athletics.