Students in Michigan increasingly turning to virtual schooling

(WXYZ) — The number of students opting to attend online virtual schooling is on the rise, according to numbers from the Michigan Department of Education.

The numbers show there are currently more than 11,000 students in the state choosing to get their high school diploma online.

Jazzmin Mead,14, of Westland is one of those 11,000 students. She turned to “Insight School of Michigan” after being bullied in school.

“I was getting called names, people pushed me into stuff,” said Jazzmin.

“When it got to that point and the though of losing our child, it wasn’t worth it, no education is worth losing your child,” said Jazzmin’s mother, Jennifer.

According to the Michigan Department of Education, there are only 13 verified virtual schools in the state. Per state law, virtual schools are defined as a charter school that provides full-time instructions to students through online learning.

“What we are here to do is try to provide another option for students, especially students that do not fit the mold of a brick and motor public school,” said James Middleditch, Assistant Director of WAY Michigan virtual school.

Middleditch says bullying is one reason students are turning to them. They also service low-income students having to work to support families, students involved in sports or other on the road activities, or teens who have children.

The following are verified virtual schools through the state of Michigan:

• Michigan Connections Academy
• ICademy Global
• Great Lakes Cyber Academy
• Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy
• LifeTech Academy
• WAY Michigan
• Insight School of Michigan
• Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan
• Success Virtual Learning Centers of Michigan
• Michigan International Prep School
• Michigan Online School
• Lighthouse Connections Academy
• Uplift Michigan Academy