Christophe Farrell has been homeschooled most of his life. Clare Dougherty left a traditional school this semester and is embarking on her first homeschool experience. The high school senior and junior are just two of the 42 students who enrolled in the inaugural year of The Freedom Institute of Collier County in Naples.
The new, unique high school brings together homeschooled students with teachers, advisors, and classmates. Parents can choose any homeschool model, from Florida Virtual School to private online programs to curriculums devised especially for the individual student.
“It is whatever the parent wants,” said Chris Marker, chief executive officer of The Freedom Institute. “We are kind of a concierge service. We are a homeschool support system.”
The school is open 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7-11 a.m. on Fridays. Students can come to campus as much or as little as they like.
“Some come almost the entire time; some come part-time,” Marker said. “It fits in real well with families that travel. It works well for students with individual sports.”
There are also learning opportunities for various careers. Christophe is interested in marketing and is now designing the school’s videos. Clare is building an art portfolio. The Freedom Institute also encourages college-bound students to do dual enrollment with Florida SouthWestern State College. Advisors help students build a list of classes around core content that will help them choose their future careers and meet the requirements of the colleges.
The school currently has four accredited teachers and two administrators. Marker had hoped for about 30 students this year and is excited to have surpassed that with 42. The goal is to have 120 students by the school’s third academic year.
“We anticipated this would be mostly experienced homeschoolers, but 75% [of our students are] from traditional schools,” Marker explained. “Only 25% are homeschool savvy. That one was a shocker.”
About 75% of students at The Freedom Insitute plan to go on to college, while the other 25% will head to the workforce after graduation.
The year-round school costs $8,400 a year, but most families are not paying a penny. Florida’s Personalized Education Program scholarships reimburse $8,000 a year, and families can get an additional $700 from Collier County.
“So it is truly free,” Marker noted.
A few students currently are on a scholarship waitlist but are using a Quest scholarship in the meantime. Marker said that next year there will be more scholarships available so that every student will receive one.
Christophe said The Freedom Institute is much better than just learning from home.
“Before, it was kind of bland,” he described. “I would be at home all day, [with] very limited social interactions. [I had] recorded classes. [It was] not really optimal for a high schooler.”
Now, Christophe has an internship. He has a success coach to help him create his learning path. He has new friends, and he enjoys socializing in the Eagles Nest, a recreation room with ping pong, foosball, pool, arcade basketball, skeeball, video games, and more. There is also a STEM area for science and a fitness room.
“I like the close relationship between the staff and the students,” Christophe continued. “It feels like a home. It does not feel like a public school. You are not a number. I like the balance between work and social interactions here.”
Clare had been a student at Gulf Coast High School and then Aubrey Rogers High School before starting at Freedom this semester.
“I like that you have a lot of freedom,” she began. “You can control what you learn and what pace you learn at. It is helpful for people who are artists like me. Public schools are not oriented around the careers that people are thinking about. I like that all the kids here are super nice. I just feel very welcome.”
Clare is doing dual enrollment, and she is learning to design ads. One of her ads is now in a local magazine.
“That is something I could not do in public school,” she said.
“Traditional schools, in some respects, do a one-size-fits-all all,” Marker noted. “We can do a precise curriculum for where a kid wants to go.” He said there are many additional benefits to The Freedom Institute model of education.
“There is a positive peer culture,” he said. “You have kids working with kids. It is hands-on. It is not just opening a computer and doing a computer module. We do debates. We do group work. As a homeschool parent, one of my biggest fears was lack of socialization and making sure the academics were on par with other kids in the world. Freedom is able to do both. We are able to [offer] the best of both worlds.”
ADDITIONAL ARTICLES
Hybrid Education: Combining Homeschool and the Classroom
Year-by-Year Timeline for College-Bound High School Students
Accountability Accelerates Student Achievement at Collier County Public Schools