Milestones and Magic: The Forest School Online's Greatest Wins

Since its founding in 2021, The Forest School Online has been a beacon of innovation in education, bringing a unique and personalized learning experience to over 100 learners across 17 U.S. states and provinces, as well as 5 countries. As we continue into our fourth year, we are proud to reflect on our achievements and look forward to the future with optimism and commitment.

Accreditation Milestones

In our very first year of operation, The Forest School Online earned prestigious accreditation status, a testament to our dedication to providing high-quality education. We have maintained accreditations from the Georgia Accrediting Commission (GAC) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) for three consecutive years. As we approach the 2024-2025 school year, we are preparing for a significant milestone—completing a 50-page Self-Study Report and welcoming an ACS WASC accreditor to renew our accreditation. This process underscores our ongoing commitment to excellence and continuous improvement.

Enrollment Successes

Our enrollment journey has been one of steady growth and expansion. We have served approximately 100 full-time learners in our Studios, with an average of 12-16 learners at the start of the school year, often growing to exceed 22 learners by the end of the year, thanks to our open enrollment policy. Notably, 17 learners have transitioned from The Forest School Online to attend in-person at The Forest School, and at least 4 have moved on to Acton Schools closer to their homes.

We take great pride in celebrating our graduates, with one learner graduating in 2022-2023 and two more in 2023-2024. Our learner retention rate has seen a remarkable increase, rising from 48.57% after the 2021-2022 school year to an impressive 84.78% after the 2023-2024 school year, not including graduates and in-organization transfers. This retention speaks volumes about the value and impact of our educational approach.

A Diverse and Global Community

The Forest School Online is a diverse and inclusive community, welcoming learners from various racial, economic, and geographical backgrounds. As of the 2024-2025 school year, our learner demographic includes:

  • Racial Diversity: 23 African or African-American, 3 Asian, 12 Caucasian, and 5 Hispanic learners.

  • Economic Diversity: 11 learners paying full tuition, with 32 on scholarships.

  • Geographical Diversity: Learners from the United States, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and China.

Our global reach is reflected in the broad geographical distribution of our learners, who hail from states across the U.S. such as Virginia, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, Colorado, Texas, New York, and many others. Internationally, we have welcomed learners from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, China, Costa Rica, and Mexico. This global footprint has allowed us to build a vibrant community that spans multiple time zones, including Eastern Time, Central Time, Mountain Time, East Africa Time, Indochina Time, and China Standard Time.


Staff Retention and Leadership Growth

Our dedicated Guides are the heart of The Forest School Online, and we are proud to have retained all of our salaried Guide hires in full-time or part-time roles over the past four years. This stability has allowed us to cultivate a supportive and consistent learning environment. One of our Guides has even been promoted to Head of School, highlighting our commitment to nurturing leadership from within.



Community Enhancements

Since our inaugural year, we have made several key improvements to enhance the online learning experience for our community:

  • Assigned at least one full-time Guide per Studio to ensure personalized attention.

  • Simplified and clarified learner-facing documents and submission guidelines.

  • Introduced House Teams to foster camaraderie and healthy competition.

  • Established in-school apprenticeships in school leadership, marketing, education, and mentorship, providing learners with real-world experience.

  • Empowered learners by designating leaders in each Studio and creating a School Steering Committee.

  • Formed a Parent Studio and Parent-Guide Association to strengthen the partnership between families and Guides.

  • Implemented fully virtual contract signing for 100% participation.

  • Organized local meetups in towns where Guides and learners reside, further strengthening our community bonds.

  • Created a Georgia-based community for learners who do not attend The Forest School in person, ensuring they still feel connected and supported.



Looking Forward

As we continue to grow and evolve, The Forest School Online remains dedicated to providing an exceptional, learner-centered education that transcends geographical boundaries. We are excited to see what the future holds as we continue to empower our learners to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Thank you for being a part of The Forest School Online community. Together, we are making a difference—one learner at a time.

Tyler Thigpen