Selecting the best online school for your child can be difficult and challenging at the same time. 21K School and Connections Academy are two of the top options in online schooling. Both promise to offer the best online education to your child, but what is the truth about accreditation, curriculum, grades, and other aspects?
Let’s try to know more in this 21K School vs Connections Academy write-up. We’ll try to understand 21K School and Connections Academy, followed by a detailed differentiation on the 15 key pointers like accreditation, curriculum, grades, live classes, and others.
Table of Contents
- What is 21K School?
- What is Connections Academy?
- 15 Key Differences of 21K School and Connections Academy
- 1. Accreditation and Recognition
- 2. Curriculum Offered
- 3. Grades Covered
- 4. Live Classes
- 5. Physical Learning Space (Learning Garage).
- 6. Assessment Criteria
- 7. Technology Used
- 8. Global Reach
- 9. Teaching Methodology
- 10. Faculty Availability
- 11. Learner to Facilitator Ratio
- 12. Fees
- 13. Flexibility
- 14. Parent Engagement
- 15. Advanced Learning
- 21K School vs Connections Academy: Which One Should You Choose
- Conclusion
What is 21K School?
21K school is an Indian online school which conducts live, interactive online classes for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12. Depending on the programme of choice, it has a wide variety of curricula that comprise both CBSE and Cambridge.
The school integrates both knowledge imparted by the teachers and the online learning tools to provide flexible and structured online learning. It favours academic excellence, personalised learning and technology-based learning, which is only provided in a virtual classroom.
What is Connections Academy?
Connections Academy is a tuition-free, publicly funded, American online school system that teaches in the contracted states in a programme that starts as early as Kindergarten and concludes in Grade 12.
It includes a curriculum which is reviewed by the state and certified teachers, in-person classes, an online learning platform and Pearson.
15 Key Differences of 21K School and Connections Academy
21K School and Connections Academy differ in the following ways:
| Feature | 21K School | Connections Academy |
| Accreditation & Recognition | Offers recognised curriculum pathways such as CBSE and Cambridge. | The state differs from the U.S.-accredited online schools (both public and private). |
| Curriculum Offered | Indian curriculum and British curriculum. | State-approved U.S. curriculum. |
| Grades Covered | Kindergarten to Grade 12. | Kindergarten to Grade 12. |
| Live Classes | Planned teacher-conducted classes. | Online live classes. |
| Physical Learning Space | Online, and can have an option of learning garage. | Fully online with some local activities. |
| Assessment Criteria | Examinations, homework, tests and projects. | Quizzes, state tests, assignments and projects. |
| Technology Used | Online classes and online learning materials and learning management system. | Online education system being offered by Pearson. |
| Global Reach | Given to both international and Indian students. | The courses offered to the students are mainly in the United States. |
| Teaching Methodology | Structured teacher-led instruction. | Teacher-centred learning. |
| Faculty Availability | Teachers offer both frequent live courses, as well as academic assistance. | Learning and personal tutoring is given by qualified teachers. |
| Learner-to-Facilitator Ratio | Three available batches-Standard: 24-26 learners. Premium: 20-22 learners.Elite: 16-18 learners | The teacher to student ratio will be based upon the state and school. |
| Fees | The tuition fee starts at 52,000+ per year, considering the curriculum at 21K School. | The public programmes are free, whereas the private ones are fee-charging. |
| Flexibility | Flexible and structured online learning. | State attendance options for learning. |
| Parent Engagement | Regular parent/teacher meetings and reports on progress. | Learning coaches are their parents, especially for younger learners. |
| Advanced Learning | Improvement programmes and extensions of curriculum. | AP, career-oriented, honours, and dual-credit courses (where offered). |
1. Accreditation and Recognition
21K School: It has a school programme, which will be based on the programme that would be followed, and this can be either the CBSE or the Cambridge programme. It depends on the system and the curriculum which the student is following.
Connections Academy: It is a virtual school system, based and accredited in America and offers school programmes online. This recognition and accreditation are conducted based on the school campus and the state.
2. Curriculum Offered
21K School: Offers both CBSE and Cambridge programs and has online learning programs which are specifically designed to suit online learning. This will be where the students will adopt either the Indian or foreign curriculum based on their academic dreams.
Connections Academy: Adheres to the state-approved curricula and standards of education in the United States. The curriculum is adapted to the academic requirements of the local education authorities since each state has its own requirements.
3. Grades Covered
21K School: The school offers online education to Grade 12 or less in various curricula and may be applied in primary, middle, secondary and senior secondary schools.
Connections Academy: Students in Grades 1-12 in all the states involved in the programmes around the U.S.
4. Live Classes
21K School: It is a school with regular classes in which teachers lecture regularly with a well-structured academic curriculum and a designated time frame for interaction and doubt classes.
Connections Academy: It consists of online classes in real time, classes with instructors and online learning videos. Not only do the learners get an opportunity to do their coursework in their free time, but they also get an opportunity to do so.
5. Physical Learning Space (Learning Garage).
21K School: This is a fully online form of school, although it does have a learning garage where hands-on knowledge can be learned.
Connections Academy: Connections Academy is an online school as well, with no learning centres, only physical ones. It is, however, free to organise optional local activities, field trips and community activities to facilitate interaction among students and their practical study.
6. Assessment Criteria
21K School: Compares the academics with the selected school curriculum, in terms of the assignments, quizzes, projects, practical assignments, and the exams.
Connections Academy: Evaluates students with the help of assignments, quizzes, projects, and (where it is possible) state tests and continuous assessment administered by one of the teachers based on the standards of state education.
7. Technology Used
21K School: It uses virtual classes, learning management systems, online assessment tools and interactive education tools to allow the teachers to provide online learning.
Connections Academy: It is based on Pearson, which is an online school that offers its students and parents electronic courses, examinations, communication tools, progress development and learning resources.
8. Global Reach
21K School: The school includes students studying in India and numerous other countries in addition to providing online learning to students wishing to obtain either an Indian or global curriculum.
Connections Academy: It consists mostly of students in the United States of America in state-approved online state schools, but has limited opportunities to enrol in other countries.
9. Teaching Methodology
21K School: A teacher-centred curriculum is adopted, comprising live classes, online material and curriculum-based learning to climb the ladder of success in the academic world step by step.
Connections Academy: Instructors base learning on self-directed learning; students are not restricted by the speed of learning and are often assisted with their learning.
10. Faculty Availability
21K School: They hold regular face-to-face classes, which are presented by teachers; they also offer academic advice and problem-solving and help during the school year.
Connections Academy: The lessons, feedback, individualised help and interaction are delivered by the educators through regular office time, virtual sessions, emails, etc.
11. Learner to Facilitator Ratio
21K School: The available batch sizes for learners are:
- Standard: 24-26 learners.
- Premium: 20-22 learners.
- Elite: 16-18 learners
Connections Academy: Teacher-to-student ratios are 19:1 to 40:1 and are dictated by state, grade and enrollment.
12. Fees
21K School: Tuition in 21K School will start at ₹52,000 and above depending on the curriculum and grade level.
Connections Academy: A majority of the school programmes at the public schools are free to deserving U.S. residents, and the niche of the private schools can be tuition.
13. Flexibility
21K School: It is an online education that was created to provide convenient delivery with the help of properly structured live sessions, regular programs, and learning materials.
Connections Academy: Students will have options to complete most of the coursework themselves, but meeting the requirements of the teacher, deadlines of their assignments and state attendance policies.
14. Parent Engagement
21K School: The school will add parent-teacher meetings with the teachers’ progress and communication reports with the school personnel.
Connections Academy: Learning coach (especially in the case of younger students) involves parents or other caregiving staff as active participants in both the everyday learning and in the instruction of the teachers.
15. Advanced Learning
21K School: This is the school that enriches the school’s activities, academic competition, curriculum extension and other facilitations that can assist high-achieving students to achieve their academic potential.
Connections Academy: Advanced Placement (AP), honours and dual-credit courses, and career-focused courses are available in only some schools, depending on the availability of programmes in the state.
21K School vs Connections Academy: Which One Should You Choose
Choosing to go to 21K School or Connections Academy highly depends on your location and the kind of education you would like to acquire.
Connections Academy serves mostly the learners of the U.S. state educational systems, and 21K School serves the learners of the education systems of which are popular, like CBSE and Cambridge, in India (as well as other countries of the world).
With its core values rooted in live communication, the flexible system of online education and organised school structure, 21K School has a significant opportunity to satisfy the needs of families who are eager to witness an online school in the world.
Some of the things that you should consider before you make your decision include your curriculum, accreditation, learning style, costs and long-term educational goals of your child.
Conclusion
Academies such as Connections Academy and the 21K Schools are good and may be added to the list of various student categories and learning structures.
Among these institutions is Connections Academy, where students are mostly accepted in the U.S. Popular programmes, e.g., the CBSE and the Cambridge programmes, are offered in state-approved programmes, and 21K School is available to students in India and elsewhere in the world.
The examination of the academic requirements of the child you have, the type of curriculum your child enjoys and the general objectives of your child will inform you on the online school that will be advantageous to his/her educational needs.
